Juan Powell

East Carolina’s football team received some unfortunate news one week away from its season opener.

Redshirt sophomore linebacker Delvontae Harris and true freshman cornerback Juan Powell were both charged with felonies for breaking and entering a motor vehicle late Friday night into early Saturday morning, according to police booking records. Both were held on $15,000 bonds.

According to the police report, Powell and Harris were found by authorities past 3 a.m. Saturday morning after their description matched a pair of suspects pulling on door handles and breaking into cars in downtown Greenville. The two admitted to police they broke into one car. Nothing has been reported stolen from the vehicles at this time.

ECU head coach Mike Houston has suspended both players indefinitely. The first-year Pirate head coach said he would meet with his team about the situation Sunday before turning "100 percent focus" to NC State.

"Just as we talked last week, there are certain things that are non-negotiable with our program, and representing East Carolina University in a negative light is something we take very seriously," Houston said. "Disappointed in the decisions and actions by a couple of our players. They are suspended indefinitely. During this time, we will continue to support them as they work through the legal process and the processes here on campus. However, they will have no association with our football program. Any long-term permanent decisions will be made at the conclusion of these processes."

Powell, 18, had put together a tremendous offseason since joining the program as a true freshman in January. He was a candidate to start right away at cornerback heading into the season opener at NC State this coming Saturday.

Harris, 20, is in his third year with the program. The 5-foot-11, 223-pounder has been working as a backup linebacker and special teams player. He appeared eight games last season as a redshirt freshman but has yet to record an official statistic in college.

The situation with Powell and Harris could potentially hurt the depth in both the cornerback and inside linebacker room, each of which only has five other scholarship players.

Fellow true freshman Ja’Quan McMillian has been battling for a starting position at corner. Seniors Mike Witherspoon and Colby Gore, redshirt freshman Damel Hickman, and true freshman Malik Fleming are the other scholarship players in the room.

Junior Bruce Bivens and sophomore Xavier Smith are the projected starters at inside linebacker. Harris was competing for a backup role along with junior Aaron Ramseur, sophomore Myles Berry and true freshman Chad Stephens.

Powell was a three-star recruit as part of the 2019 class from Douglass High School in Atlanta. He initially decommitted from ECU after last year’s coaching transition, but ended up recommitting to Houston’s staff and signing with the Pirates. Powell chose ECU over Troy, Tulane and Syracuse. The 5-foot-11 speedster played multiple positions in high school but transitioned to defensive back full-time after enrolling with East Carolina.

Harris was a three star recruit from Newnan High School in Newnan, Ga., as part of the 2017 class. He signed with ECU over offers from Charleston Southern and Western Carolina. He redshirted his initial year on campus before participating on special teams a year ago.

ECU will open its season at NC State on Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 12 noon from Carter-Finley Stadium.