East Carolina has hosted a steady stream of transfer tight ends in recent weeks, and the Pirates now have their first commitment at the position.
Transfer tight end Ismael Smith Flores, formerly of Texas–Rio Grande Valley, announced his commitment to ECU following an official visit over the weekend. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Flores began his college career at Nebraska, where he moved between offense and defense, before transferring to UTRGV and settling into the tight end role full time.
The move paid off quickly at the FCS level. Flores recorded 20 receptions for 244 yards and six touchdowns, emerging as a consistent red-zone threat. After re-entering the transfer portal in early December, he drew interest from several programs. ECU moved swiftly, bringing him to campus and ultimately securing his pledge.
The Pirates enter the season with a clear need at tight end after transfers Desirrio Riles (Florida State) and Jayvontay Conner (Vanderbilt) departed via the portal. With his experience, Flores is expected to compete for immediate playing time, though ECU is still likely to add another tight end to the room. The Pirates also redshirted freshmen Stephen Collier, Kaleb Morrow, and Cayman Reynolds last season, while walk-ons Miles Parker and Mason Brown are expected to return in 2026.
A three-star athlete out of Martin High School in Texas, Flores was part of the 2023 recruiting class and originally committed to Nebraska over offers from programs such as Iowa, Rutgers, Indiana, Michigan State, and North Texas. During his time with the Cornhuskers, he redshirted in 2023 and appeared in two games in 2024 as a defensive player, recording one tackle.
At UTRGV, Flores caught at least one pass in eight of the team’s 12 games, highlighted by a two-catch, 68-yard, two-touchdown performance against Incarnate Word.
ECU is coming off a 9–4 season under head coach Blake Harrell, capped by a 23–17 win over Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl. New offensive coordinator Jordan Davis previously coached at North Texas and was part of the staff that recruited Flores out of high school, adding another familiar connection to the Pirates’ latest addition
