CHARLOTTE, N.C. (August 3, 2010) - 4-star quarterback recruit Cody Keith announced today he has committed to play college football at East Carolina University.  Keith had been recruited by numerous Division I programs across the country.  

 

Keith, a Charlotte, N.C., native, said the opportunity to stay close to home and play for new head coach Ruffin McNeill's pro-style offense put East Carolina over the top.
 
"When ECU hired Coach McNeill and Coach (Lincoln) Riley, I knew it was the perfect place for me because of their high-powered passing offense," Keith said. "I come from a very close-knit family and staying in North Carolina was also important to me.  I can't wait to contribute to the future success of East Carolina."
 
Keith will play for a team that will likely lead the nation in passing offense.  Coach (Ruffin) McNeill was formerly the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.  McNeill will implement the powerful Texas Tech offense and he brought with him Lincoln Riley, a rising coaching star in college football, to accomplish this goal.  Riley, an offensive mastermind who, as the interim offensive coordinator for Texas Tech on Jan. 2, 2010 led the Red Raiders to a 43-31 victory over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl.  In that game, the Raiders compiled 579 yards of offense, the most since they gained 606 yards against Air Force in the 1995 Copper Bowl.  During Riley's years assisting at Texas Tech, Red Raider quarterbacks won NCAA passing titles in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008.  The Red Raiders were second in passing in 2006 and 2009.
 
CBS College Sports Network and MaxPreps.com football recruiting expert Tom Lemming ranks Keith a 4-star quarterback, the top quarterback on the East Coast for the Class of 2011, and top 10 nationally.
 
"Cody is the fastest-rising QB prospect in the country," Lemming said.  "His QB Coach, Joe Dickinson (DeBartolo Sports University) has done a good job coaching Cody and is partially the reason he has been recruited by so many Division 1 programs.  He has great size and a very quick release and will fit in well with a pro-style offense.  I give him a 4 star rating and rank him the # 1 QB on the East Coast and Top 10 nationally."
 
"Cody is a very talented and athletic quarterback who has all the makings of a great quarterback," said DeBartolo Sports University QB Coach Dickinson, who has trained Tampa Bay Buccaneers QBs Josh Freeman and Rudy Carpenter, USC's Matt Barkley, and Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Troy Aikman.  "He has great size and arm strength, and has the ability to make all the throws with pinpoint accuracy.  What is most impressive is his tremendous work ethic and commitment to the game of football. I know Cody will have a bright future in football and be extremely successful at ECU."
 
Keith also has the support of Indianapolis Colts Offensive Coordinator Clyde Christensen, whom Cody has worked out with this last year.
 
"I am excited about Cody's commitment to ECU," Christensen said.  "Not only is it a great marriage of a big throwing quarterback in a proven passing system, but Cody brings a great work ethic and strong character and leadership that all coaches look for at the quarterback position.  No one has worked harder than Cody and it will be fun to watch him succeed at the next level."
 
Last season at Maranatha High School in Pasadena, Calif., Keith led his team to a 9-3 record and the quarterfinals of the East Valley Division CIF Southern Section playoffs.  The Minutemen were undefeated in conference play for the first time in 23 years.  For the season, Keith was 157/235 (66% completion), throwing for 2,212 yards and 21 TDs.  He also rushed for an additional 507 yards and 10 TD's.
 
Keith will attend Cheshire Academy (Cheshire, CT) this fall prior to enrolling at East Carolina University in the spring of 2011. 
 
Head Football Coach of Cheshire Academy, Danny O'Dea says, "Overall, Cody Keith is the most advanced QB I have ever seen coming into a prep school.  Cody will be part of an offense similar to ECU and will have many opportunities to throw the ball. I'm very comfortable giving Cody complete control of the field and running the offense because of his ability to make precision passes and quick and smart decisions."