BREAKING: Nation’s Top Recruits, Twin QBs Jaxon & Jace Carter, Flip Commitment to ECU Pirates
**GREENVILLE, N.C.** – In a stunning, unprecedented recruiting coup that defies modern college football history, East Carolina University has secured a tandem commitment from the most celebrated package in America. **Jaxon and Jace Carter**, the five-star twin quarterbacks from Hoover, Alabama, and the nation’s No. 1 and No. 4 overall prospects in the Class of 2025, announced a joint decision Friday to decommit from the University of Alabama and sign together with the ECU Pirates.
The announcement, made during a live, nationally televised ceremony, sent a historic shockwave through the sport. The Carter twins, hailed as generational talents with complementary skillsets, had been the foundational pieces of Alabama’s recruiting class for over a year. Their synchronized flip to ECU represents not just the biggest recruiting victory in Pirate history, but arguably the most significant tandem acquisition ever for a Group of Five program.
“This decision is about legacy, unity, and proving that the biggest stories aren’t always written in the biggest stadiums,” said Jaxon, the slightly taller, strong-armed pocket passer ranked No. 1 overall. “We have nothing but love for Alabama and Coach DeBoer. But the vision presented by Coach [Mike] Houston, the offensive creativity of Coach [John David] Baker, and the genuine family atmosphere in Greenville was unparalleled. We want to build something legendary together.”
Jace, a dynamic dual-threat talent, added, “We’ve been a team since day one. ECU sees us as a partnership—two quarterbacks who can elevate an entire program in unique ways. We saw a fanbase and a community that fights with a chip on its shoulder, and we wanted to be part of that fight. This is where we can make a difference that lasts forever.”
This dual flip is the ultimate validation of Head Coach **Mike Houston**’s culture-first rebuilding project. For a program known for its passionate “Pirate Nation” but not for landing top-tier high school talent, securing a duo of this caliber—a pair instantly capable of transforming an offense and a conference’s national perception—transcends any on-field win. It proves that in the era of NIL and personal branding, the promise of co-writing a historic underdog narrative can outweigh traditional powerhouse allure.
“This is the most paradigm-shattering recruiting story of the last 25 years,” declared ESPN National Recruiting Director Tom Luginbill. “For ECU to go into Alabama’s backyard, take the state’s top two players—who are also among the top five in the *nation*—from the Crimson Tide, is simply mind-blowing. It’s a testament to Mike Houston’s relentless character-based recruiting. This isn’t an addition; it’s a foundational transformation for an entire league.”
The strategic implications are profound. The Carter twins offer ECU an unprecedented two-QB system with limitless offensive flexibility, allowing Coordinator John David Baker to craft schemes that leverage both elite arms and elite mobility interchangeably.
The immediate ramifications are staggering. The Carters’ commitment instantly launches ECU’s 2025 class to the top of the Group of Five rankings and into the national conversation. It serves as a magnet for elite skill players seeking to play with transcendent talent and sends a jolt of credibility through the American Athletic Conference.
For Alabama, losing its top two in-state commits is a seismic blow. For ECU and Pirate Nation, it is a historic, program-altering moment of arrival. Jaxon and Jace Carter are more than quarterbacks; they are a unified symbol of audacious ambition and living proof that the heart of college football can still beat loudest where it’s least expected. In Greenville, a revolution now has not one, but two charismatic leaders at the helm.
