Womack inks with East Carolina

The road to Joe Womack’s roots apparently runs through Greenville.

Womack, Northside’s talented and versatile star athlete, signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday to attend East Carolina University where he will join the Pirates’ resurgent football team.

“I felt really good,” Womack said of the ceremony held at Northside High School. “A lot of people came out to support me.

“I was excited. Excited to be the first one to sign a Division I scholarship from Northside and everybody was excited for me.”

Womack is expected to make a position change to wide receiver, a change from his Monarch days as a quarterback and defensive back. It’s not an unfamiliar position, however, as he played that position when he was younger.

“I used to play it when I was little. That’s where my heart was at, so I’m going back to it,” he said. “I’m excited about (the switch). … I remember catching a few touchdown passes in those little Pop Warner Super Bowls.”

East Carolina head coach Skip Holtz, who has helped the Purple and Gold return to a successful path in his three-year tenure, beamed about his newest addition.

“We were fortunate to have an opportunity to get to know Joe during our summer camp and we were immediately impressed with his character, family and athletic ability,” Holtz said via e-mail through the school’s media relations department. “He’s simply a great person who also happens to be a great athlete.

“I’m looking forward to having him in our program at the wide receiver position. He makes things happen with the ball under his arm and that is exciting for all of us.”

Womack was voted The Daily News Most Valuable Player following a senior season that saw him finish with a combined 1,822 yards and 27 touchdowns rushing and passing. On defense he recorded nine interceptions and played for the N.C. squad in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Also voted the East Central 2-A Conference player of the year, Womack tallied 5,066 total yards and 73 touchdowns during his career.

“He had a great career and now he gets to go play college football and get a great education,” said NHS head coach Bob Eason, who believes Womack will have no trouble making the position switch. “He’s got great leaping ability and good speed and good hands. He’ll be everything they want in a receiver; he’s got the height and he’s going to be savvy because he played quarterback.”

Womack, the 18-year-old son of Joe Sr. and Felicia Womack of Jacksonville, said his decision was aided by several things, including the presence of former Southwest High players Dekota Marshall and Austin Haynes. Marshall, a defensive back, will be entering his redshirt sophomore season while Haynes, a linebacker, will be a redshirt freshman when the 2008 season begins.

“I knew those guys well. I talked to them a lot, almost everyday,” he said. “I went up there and talked to them, called them on the phone and asked them questions and they gave me good responses.

“I would ask them how was the transition and the things I need to do transitioning to college and how the coaches were behind the scenes.”

Womack also pointed to the coaching staff and the Pirates’ recent success as key factors into why he never seriously considered any other school. East Carolina in December earned its first bowl win since 2000 with a 41-38 victory over Boise State. The Pirates finished 8-5 overall after going 7-6 in 2006 and 5-6 during Holtz’s first season in 2005.

“I saw that (ECU) can be just as good as any school out there,” he said. “I like it because (Holtz) doesn’t promise you anything, but when he says something he means it and I think everybody listens when he talks.”

Womack understands there will be much work necessary to take the next step but is prepared for the challenge ahead.

“They said to work on my speed and quickness and they’ll take care of the rest when I get up there,” he said with a laugh. “I’m going to have to be patient, learn the offensive for one and just listen to the coaches. Everything they tell me, just try to put it on the field.

“And don’t try to do too much at one time.”

When not digging into a thick playbook, Womack believes he’ll be studying computer networking or computer software.

“It should be kind of cool,” he said, again letting loose a good laugh. “My computer teacher says I have a natural art for doing things on computers.”