East Carolina Pirates football statistical leaders explained
The East Carolina Pirates football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the East Carolina Pirates football program in various categories,[1] [2] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Pirates represent East Carolina University in the NCAA Division I FBS American Athletic Conference.
East Carolina began competing in intercollegiate football in 1932. However, these lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
- Since 1932, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
- The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.
- Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[3] The Pirates have played in eight bowl games since then, and will play in a ninth in 2022, allowing players an extra game to accumulate statistics.
- The recent decade has seen two players set NCAA records: Justin Hardy, who caught 387 passes, more than anyone in all of college football ever had, until fellow Pirate Zay Jones broke the record in 2016.[4] Jones also set the NCAA single-season record with 158 receptions, which is more than all but 2 other East Carolina receivers have ever had in their whole careers.
- Due to COVID-19 issues, the NCAA declared that the 2020 season would not be counted against the athletic eligibility of any football player, giving everyone who played in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.
The most recent East Carolina record books do not list a top 10 in all statistics, sometimes only listing a leader. These lists are updated through the end of the 2022 regular season.
Passing
Passing yards
Career| 1 | | 13,927[5] | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 |
| 2 | | 11,991 | 2012 2013 2014 |
| 3 | | 9,029 | 1998 1999 2000 2001 |
| 4 | James Pinkney | 8,173 | 2003 2004 2005 2006 |
| 5 | Marcus Crandell | 7,198 | 1993 1994 1995 1996 |
| 6 | Dominique Davis | 7,192 | 2010 2011 |
| 7 | Patrick Pinkney | 6,980 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 |
| 8 | Jeff Blake | 5,133 | 1988 1989 1990 1991 |
| 9 | Travis Hunter | 3,928 | 1986 1987 1988 1989 |
| 10 | Dan Gonzalez | 3,868 | 1994 1995 1996 1997 | |
Single season| 1 | Shane Carden | 4,736 | 2014 |
| 2 | Shane Carden | 4,129 | 2013 |
| 3 | Dominique Davis | 3,967 | 2010 |
| 4 | | 3,708 | 2022 |
| 5 | | 3,387 | 2019 |
| 6 | Dominique Davis | 3,225 | 2011 |
| 7 | | 3,126 | |
| 8 | Shane Carden | 3,116 | 2012 |
| 9 | Jeff Blake | 3,073 | 1991 |
| 10 | Patrick Pinkney | 2,947 | 2009 | |
Passing touchdowns
Rushing
Rushing yards
Career| 1 | Junior Smith | 3,745 | 1991 1992 1993 1994 |
| 2 | Leonard Henry | 3,089 | 1998 1999 2000 2001 |
| 3 | | 3,027[10] | 2020 2021 2022 |
| 4 | Chris Johnson | 2,982 | 2004 2005 2006 2007 |
| 5 | Carlester Crumpler Sr. | 2,889 | 1971 1972 1973 |
| 6 | Tony Baker | 2,825 | 1982 1983 1984 1985 |
| 7 | Theodore Sutton | 2,730 | 1977 1978 1979 1980 |
| 8 | Butch Colson | 2,512 | 1967 1968 1969 |
| 9 | Scott Harley | 2,465 | 1995 1996 1997 |
| 10 | Vintavious Cooper | 2,242 | 2012 2013 | |
Single season| 1 | Scott Harley | 1,745 | 1996 |
| 2 | Keaton (Deuce) Mitchell | 1,452 | 2022 |
| 3 | Leonard Henry | 1,432 | 2001 |
| 4 | Chris Johnson | 1,423 | 2007 |
| 5 | Junior Smith | 1,352 | 1993 |
| 6 | Carlester Crumpler Sr. | 1,309 | 1972 |
| 7 | Junior Smith | 1,204 | 1993 |
| 8 | Vintavious Cooper | 1,193 | 2013 |
| 9 | Dominique Lindsay | 1,180 | 2009 |
| 10 | Butch Colson | 1,135 | 1967 | |
Single game| 1 | Scott Harley | 351 | 1996 | NC State |
| 2 | Chris Johnson | 301 | 2007 | Memphis |
| 3 | Scott Harley | 291 | 1996 | South Carolina |
| 4 | Junior Smith | 282 | 1993 | Tulsa |
| 5 | Billy Wightman | 245 | 1969 | Davidson |
| 6 | Leonard Henry | 234 | 2001 | Cincinnati |
| 7 | Junior Smith | 232 | 1992 | Arkansas State |
| 8 | Chris Johnson | 223 | 2007 | Boise State |
| 9 | Keaton Mitchell | 222 | | Tulane |
| Keaton Mitchell | 222[11] | | Temple | |
Rushing touchdowns
Single game| 1 | Scott Harley | 6 | 1996 | Ohio | |
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards
Career| 1 | Justin Hardy | 4,541 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 |
| 2 | Zay Jones | 4,279 | 2013 2014 2015 2016 |
| 3 | Dwayne Harris | 3,001 | 2007 2008 2009 2010 |
| 4 | C. J. Johnson | 2,849 | 2019 2020 2021 2022 |
| 5 | Tyler Snead | 2,374 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 |
| 6 | Troy Smith | 1,982 | 1995 1996 1997 1998 |
| 7 | Mitchell Galloway | 1,754 | 1993 1994 1995 1996 |
| 8 | Aundrae Allison | 1,723 | 2005 2006 |
| 9 | Jimmy Williams | 1,722 | 2013 2017 |
| 10 | Larry Shannon | 1,714 | 1994 1995 1996 1997 | |
Receiving touchdowns
Single game| 1 | Walter Wilson | 4 | 1989 | Pittsburgh |
| C.J. Johnson | 4 | 2022 | South Florida | |
Total offense
Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[14]
Total offense yards
Career| 1 | | 15,373 | 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 |
| 2 | | 12,244 | 2011 2012 2013 2014 |
| 3 | David Garrard | 10,238 | 1998 1999 2000 2001 |
| 4 | James Pinkney | 8,563 | 2003 2004 2005 2006 |
| 5 | Marcus Crandell | 7,641 | 1993 1994 1995 1996 |
| 6 | Dominique Davis | 7,505 | 2010 2011 |
| 7 | Patrick Pinkney | 7,417 | 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 |
| 8 | Jeff Blake | 5,618 | 1988 1989 1990 1991 |
| 9 | Travis Hunter | 5,196 | 1986 1987 1988 1989 |
| 10 | Bill Cline | 3,883 | 1962 1963 1964 | |
Single season| 1 | Shane Carden | 4,812 | 2014 |
| 2 | Shane Carden | 4,242 | 2013 |
| 3 | Dominique Davis | 4,108 | 2010 |
| 4 | | 3,890 | 2022 |
| 5 | Holton Ahlers | 3,746 | 2019 |
| 6 | Dominique Davis | 3,397 | 2011 |
| 7 | | 3,330 | 2021 |
| 8 | Shane Carden | 3,190 | 2012 |
| 9 | Jeff Blake | 3,182 | 1991 |
| 10 | Patrick Pinkney | 3,028 | 2009 | |
Touchdowns responsible for
"Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[15]
Defense
The East Carolina media guides and record books have historically listed only the top performers in most defensive statistics, rather than a top 10. However, the 2022 record book lists a full top 10 in career tackles.
Interceptions
Career| 1 | Jim Bolding | 22 | 1973 1974 1975 1976 | |
Single season| 1 | Jim Bolding | 10 | 1975 | |
Single game| 1 | 10 times | 3 | Most recent:
Greg Grandison, 1991 vs. UCF | |
Tackles
Single season| 1 | Jeffrey Warren | 184 | 1980 | |
Single game| 1 | Pernell Griffin | 24 | 2001 | Wake Forest |
| Chris Moore | 24 | 2003 | Cincinnati | |
Sacks
Career| 1 | Roderick Coleman | 39.0 | 1995 1996 1997 1998 | |
Single season| 1 | Roderick Coleman | 15.0 | 1997 | |
Single game| 1 | | 4.0 | | Wake Forest |
| Montese Overton | 4.0 | | SMU | |
Kicking
Field goals made
Single season| 1 | Jake Verity | 24 | 2019 |
| 2 | Ben Hartman | 21 | 2008 | |
Single game| 1 | Andrew Conrad | 5[16] | 2023 | Florida Atlantic |
| 2 | 11 times | 4 | Most recent:
Jake Verity, 2019 vs. William & Mary | |
Field goal percentage
Minimum of 30 attempts for career leadership, and 15 for single-season leadership.
Single season| 1 | Jake Verity | 90.5% | 2019 | |
Notes and References
- Web site: 2022 ECU Football Record Book . East Carolina Pirates . August 31, 2022 . October 30, 2022.
- Web site: 2015 East Carolina Football Media Guide. 2015-11-22. ECUPirates.com. 2015-12-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208071712/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ecu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2015-16/misc_non_event/section10-recordsandhistory.pdf. dead.
- Web site: NCAA changes policy on football stats. 2002-08-28. 2014-09-11. ESPN.com. AP.
- Web site: East Carolina football: WR Zay Jones breaks FBS record for career catches . 2016-11-19 . NCAA.com . Maiman. Beth.
- Web site: Holton Ahlers . ESPN.com . November 26, 2022.
- Web site: East Carolina vs. South Florida Box Score. October 1, 2022. October 3, 2022. ESPN.com.
- Web site: Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina Box Score. ESPN.com. December 27, 2022. December 30, 2022.
- Web site: Temple vs. East Carolina Box Score. ESPN.com. October 26, 2024. October 27, 2024.
- Web site: East Carolina vs. Florida Atlantic Box Score. ESPN.com. November 7, 2024. November 8, 2024.
- Web site: Keaton Mitchell . ESPN.com . November 26, 2022.
- Web site: Box Score: East Carolina Pirates vs. Temple Owls . ESPN.com . November 26, 2022 . November 26, 2022.
- Web site: C.J. Johnson . ESPN.com . November 26, 2022.
- Web site: Isaiah Winstead . ESPN.com . November 26, 2022.
- Web site: 2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records . NCAA . 9 . December 4, 2021.
- Web site: 2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records . NCAA . 12 . December 4, 2021.
- Web site: East Carolina vs. Florida Atlantic Box Score. ESPN.com. November 11, 2023. November 18, 2023.
