#28

Ladarian Paulk

DB · East Carolina · Sr. · #28

Returning to East Carolina for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Ladarian Paulk

DB · East Carolina · Sr · #28

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#97 national
CFB
College
3 teams
2022–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2022–2025

2 coaches
2022
East Carolina
2023
East Carolina
2025
Blake Harrell
East Carolina
era →

Coaching transition mid-career: Mike Houston → Blake Harrell. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2022Memphis7-6HC: Ryan Silverfield · Balanced
2023Florida International4-8HC: Mike MacIntyre · Balanced
2025East Carolina9-4HC: Blake Harrell · Run-leaning, fast tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025East Carolina840.00.0------
2023Florida International640.00.0------
2022Memphis27211.00.01----
Career41291.00.01----

How he plays

Play style

Moves between deep coverage and the slot.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

East Carolina

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive back · East Carolina

Returning around him

  • 51% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • 1 East Carolina player drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: -2 net (24 in / 26 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

East Carolina · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #78 · 2026 recruiting class #93

DNA match

Player DNA

Hybrid Nickel

Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.

S

His 2022 production profile sits closest to AJ Watts’s 2021 season.

AJ Watts

90%match

Akron · 2021

#2

Khari Johnson

Arkansas · 2022

88%
#3

Keyon Blakenbaker

Wyoming · 2021

82%
#4

Michael Taaffe

Texas · 2022

NFL Rd 5
82%
#5

Jer'Marius Lewis

New Mexico · 2022

81%

Matches AJ on

PD rate
Height
TFL rate

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Jer'Marius Lewis's freshman season at New Mexico (2022).

New Mexico · 2022

#2

Jashon Prophete

Northern Illinois · 2021

90%
#3

Jarvarius Sims

Central Michigan · 2022

88%
#4

Pierce Withers

Florida International · 2021

88%
#5

Elias Escobar

Sam Houston · 2023

88%

Matches Jer'Marius on

Class year
TFL rate
PD rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #10956

Final rank
#10956
Avg #11058.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #10956 this season.