East Carolina strengthens its offensive line with the addition of Brandon Best, a standout transfer from Kennesaw State. The 6-foot-4, 313-pound interior lineman was named First-Team All-Conference USA after a stellar season with the Owls, who clinched the league title.
A former Georgia Tech player, Best transferred to Kennesaw State for the 2024 season after spending three years in a backup role with the Yellow Jackets. He quickly became a key player for the Owls, starting all 14 games at left guard and playing 988 snaps.
After entering the transfer portal at the conclusion of the season, Best garnered interest from several programs. Ultimately, his decision came down to two schools from the American Athletic Conference, with Best selecting East Carolina over Memphis. He made an official visit to ECU before finalizing his commitment.
Best is expected to contribute immediately to ECU’s revamped offensive line. He is highly versatile, having played both guard and center, and should fit seamlessly into the Pirates’ up-tempo, spread offense. The addition of Best, along with FCS All-Conference guard Ethan Kramer and former Southern Miss starting right tackle Hayes Creel, bolsters an offensive line that lost all five starters from last season’s 9-4 team.
Under new offensive coordinator Jordan Davis and offensive line coach Alex Huettel, ECU is looking to rebuild and improve its front. Best is rated a three-star recruit (85 overall) in the 247Sports Transfer Portal rankings and is currently the 73rd-best interior lineman in the portal.
During his time at Kennesaw State, Best earned a solid 62.7 Pro Football Focus grade, with an impressive 80.7 mark in pass protection. He allowed just nine pressures and one sack across 486 pass-blocking snaps. Although his run-blocking grades were lower (55.5), his athleticism and footwork make him a strong fit for ECU’s system.
Best, a product of Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, was initially recruited by Georgia Tech, Kansas State, and Virginia Tech before committing to the Yellow Jackets. He was ranked a three-star prospect (83 overall) out of high school and the 92nd-best interior offensive lineman nationally in the 2022 class.
