After coming off their first conference game against USF, the Pirates return home to close out their non-conference schedule when the Old Dominion Monarchs come to town.

In 2017, ODU gave the keys to 17-year old freshman quarterback Steven Williams when senior Blake LaRussa struggled. Williams completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,528 yards, six touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The freshman was also a threat on the ground, rushing for 263 yards and three touchdowns. Senior running back Ray Lawry was the team leader in rushing and rushing touchdowns, Lawry rushed for 742 yards and had seven scores. ODU didn’t score a lot of touchdowns in the air compared to their rushing game, but the team leader in receiving touchdowns was the senior tight end, Melvin Vaughn who had four, junior Jonathan Dunhart was the second on the team with two.

On defense, junior defensive end, Oshane Ximines was a beast and the team leader in tackles for loss and sacks, Ximines had 14 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Junior linebacker Marvin Branch Jr. led the team in total tackles with 96 and junior Sean Carter was the team leader in interceptions with three.

2018 will be a season that ODU hopes it can make a big leap. The Monarchs return almost all of their offensive starters, including Williams, running back Jeremy Cox who was second on the team last season in rushing yards and touchdowns, five offensive linemen and receiving weapons Dunhart, Isaiah Harper, and Vaughn. The defense for ODU is returning a lot as well. The Monarchs bring back five senior linemen who combined for 23.5 sacks and 45 tackles for loss and that includes Ximines. Sophomore linebacker Jordan Young will be a player to watch this season.

A concern for Old Dominion in 2018 will be the cornerback position, as it could make or break the defense this season. ODU will only have two upperclassmen at the position this season in Jamez Brickhouse and Akim Bundu-Fitz. Brickhouse played in 10 games last season, while Bundu-Fitz appeared in two games on special teams before suffering a season-ending injury. The rest of the corners combined for 39 tackles in 2017, with freshman Joe Joe Headen collecting the bulk of the tackles with 36. He also had two interceptions which placed him on the C-USA All-Freshman Team.

The coaching staff for the Monarchs will be the same for the most part. Head coach Bobby Wilder will be in his 10th season, OC Brian Scott will also be in his 10th season and DC Rich Nagy will be in his fourth season with the team. The newest addition to the staff besides some graduate assistants is wide receiver coach John Allen. Allen replaces Arick Forrest, who was fired after three seasons. John Allen was the OC at Delaware state prior to taking the job at ODU.

ECU and ODU will face off for the 9th time in the series history with ECU holding a 4-3-1 lead. The two teams played in 2013 in Greenville where the Pirates won 52-38. Prior to the 2013 meeting, the teams hadn't played since 1940. When ODU comes to Greenville on September 29th it will be the first game of a home and home. ECU will travel to Norfolk, Va., in 2019.