East Carolina has bolstered its quarterback depth and offensive arsenal with the addition of seasoned dual-threat quarterback Mike Wright. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound athlete from Northwestern committed to the Pirates following an official visit, with Hoist The Colours learning of the verbal commitment on Saturday and ESPN’s Pete Thamel confirming the news Sunday night.
Wright will serve as a reliable backup to starting quarterback Katin Houser, who excelled in the latter half of last season, guiding ECU to a 5-1 record and a Military Bowl victory over NC State. Houser, who underwent offseason wrist surgery, was limited in spring practice but is expected to be fully recovered by preseason camp. The departure of Jake Garcia, last season’s part-time starter, to the transfer portal mid-spring prompted offensive coordinator John David Baker and head coach Blake Harrell to seek an experienced replacement through the transfer portal.
With a college career spanning since 2020, Wright has started 16 games across Northwestern, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt, appearing in 41 games total. He has amassed 2,874 passing yards with a 55.8% completion rate, 24 touchdown passes, and 15 interceptions, while rushing for 1,313 yards and 11 touchdowns at 5.0 yards per carry.
ECU’s quarterback group now includes Houser, Wright, redshirt sophomore Raheim Jeter, and true freshmen Chaston Ditta and Cole Hodge. Jeter has limited game experience but no starts. A native of Atlanta and Woodward Academy alum, Wright spent three seasons at Vanderbilt, starting 11 games in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, he threw for 1,042 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 373 yards; in 2022, he passed for 974 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 517 yards.
He later transferred to Mississippi State, playing in 12 games with three starts, before appearing in three games at Northwestern last season, starting two, and redshirting to preserve eligibility.
Wright, who has logged 1,317 career offensive snaps, boasts strong rushing grades from Pro Football Focus, with 646 yards after contact and 31 forced missed tackles, though his passing metrics have been inconsistent. While he entered the transfer portal open to a position switch, ECU plans to utilize him as a quarterback, potentially in specialized packages under unique circumstances.
SOURCE: 247sports
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