East Carolina football got back to .500 following Saturday's 17-9 home win over Temple and is still in contention for a bowl game, but the team lost one of its players to an injury that should have been completely avoidable.
While running downfield in between plays, an official slipped and crashed into David Coleman Jr. Unable to put any weight on his legs, the freshman defensive back was helped off the field and eventually ruled out for the remainder of the game. Rumors suggest that Coleman suffered a broken leg due to this freak accident, but we can only hope that the prognosis is not that severe.
Everyone makes mistakes, and this referee must feel awful, but both the player and program may feel a certain way following this devastating turn of events.
A ref accidentally collided with ECU DB David Coleman Jr.’s legs after the play, leaving the Kingsland, Georgia native unable to walk off under his own power.
Prayers up 🙏
pic.twitter.com/ppXaOToo7L— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 31, 2026
This marked only the second game that Coleman had played in this season, so a strong showing could have earned him additional opportunities. If the worst-case scenario has indeed happened, then he will finish his first college campaign with seven total tackles.
Article Continues BelowPirates head coach Blake Harrell still had to figure out how to lead his team to victory, but he was surely hurting for his young safety. While everyone who wears a uniform knows the inherent risks that come with playing this violent sport, catastrophe is not supposed to strike during the brief breaks in the action.
Hopefully, David Coleman Jr. can make a full recovery. It can be hard to stay upbeat after such a brutally unlucky outcome, but the entire East Carolina community is probably willing to lift his spirits. Or at least try to.