STORYLINES
East Carolina has made seven bowl appearances in the last eight years. The Pirates won six of their last seven games in 2013 to reach the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl, where they defeated Ohio 37-20.

East Carolina’s 10 wins last season rank second in school history, behind only the Pirates’ 11-1 finish in 1991.

East Carolina’s 2014 schedule includes two games against teams that finished in the top 10 last season (South Carolina, UCF).

OFFENSE
QB Shane Carden was second nationally in completion percentage last season (70.5 percent) and threw for 4,139 yards and 33 touchdowns. Carden was the 2013 Conference USA Most Valuable Player.


In just two seasons, WR Justin Hardy has set East Carolina’s career records for receiving yards (3,047) and touchdown receptions (25).

RB Breon Allen is expected to take over as the featured tailback. Allen rushed for 311 yards and three TDs last year, behind Vintavious Cooper.

The Pirates ranked eighth nationally in scoring offense last year (40.2 ppg).

DEFENSE
The Priates return just three starters from last year’s defense. DE Terrell Stanley, who would have been a returning starter on the defensive line, will miss the 2014 season while he recovers from injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

LB Zeek Bigger is the lone returning starter at linebacker. Bigger registered 77 tackles — good for third on the team — with 4.5 tackles for loss last season.

NT Chrishon Rose will be jioned by two new starters on the defensive line. Rose had 31 tackles, 2.5 sacks and six tackles for loss last season as the anchor of the Pirates’ 3-4 front.

CB Detric Allen is a fourth-year man at cornerback who looks to provide leadership to an otherwise young secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Warren Harvey returns as the starting placekicker. Harvey was 15-of-25 on field goal attempts last season.

P Worth Gregory, a transfer from Alabama, could emerge as the Pirates’ new regular punter.

Justin Hardy registered 225 yards on punt returns last season, averaging 11.2 yards per return.