Top 5 Most Important Quarterbacks in ECU Football History
Quarterback play has long defined the highs and heartbreaks of East Carolina football. From program-altering upsets to record-shattering stat lines, the best signal-callers in Pirate history have done far more than just throw the football they’ve built legacies that shaped the program. This list isn’t just about stats; it’s about impact, leadership, and the moments that made Pirate Nation believe.
1. Jeff Blake (1988–1991)
Jersey Number: No. 2
Career Passing Yards: 5,133 (8th all-time)
Top Season: 3,073 yards and 28 TDs in 1991
Why He Matters Most:
Standing 6-1, 223 pounds and wearing No. 2, Jeff Blake led East Carolina during its most iconic season. In 1991, Blake piloted the Pirates to an 11-1 record, a No. 9 national ranking, and an unforgettable Peach Bowl win over NC State — a moment that shifted ECU’s national identity forever.
He wasn't just a talented passer he was a tone-setter who proved ECU could win on the biggest stages. After his college career, Blake spent 14 seasons in the NFL, passed for over 21,000 yards, and earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1996. He was inducted into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame, forever remembered as the face of the Pirates’ first true golden era.
2. David Garrard (1998–2001)
Jersey Number: No. 9
Career Passing Yards: 9,029 (3rd all-time)
Why He Matters:
Wearing No. 9, David Garrard was a four-year starter who brought stability and toughness to ECU at the turn of the century. From 1998 to 2001, Garrard led the Pirates to 29 wins and three bowl appearances, including the legendary 1999 upset of Miami, relocated to Raleigh in the wake of Hurricane Floyd.
A three-time All-Conference USA selection, Garrard set 28 school records for passing and total offense, held the career completions record (666) upon graduation, and posted four of the top 10 single-season passing yard totals in ECU history.
After ECU, Garrard played nine NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2009. His consistency, leadership, and physicality earned him a spot in the ECU Hall of Fame and a place among the most complete QBs in school history.
3. Shane Carden (2012–2014)
Jersey Number: No. 5
Career Passing Yards: 11,991 (2nd all-time)
Top Season: 4,736 yards and 30 TDs in 2014
Why He Matters:
Wearing No. 5, Shane Carden directed one of the most explosive offensive eras in ECU history. From 2012 to 2014, he threw for nearly 12,000 yards, set the school record for single-season passing yards (4,736), and tallied a school-record 86 career passing touchdowns.
His connection with Justin Hardy became one of college football’s most lethal duos, leading ECU to wins over UNC, NC State, and Virginia Tech, two 10-win seasons, and appearances in the Top 25.
Carden was named Conference USA MVP in 2013 and AAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2014, before signing with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. His command, swagger, and production helped modernize ECU football.
4. Holton Ahlers (2018–2022)
Jersey Number: No. 12
Career Passing Yards: 13,927 (1st all-time)
Top Season: 3,708 yards and 28 TDs in 2022
Why He Matters:
Greenville’s own Holton Ahlers wore No. 12 and became the face of Pirate football during a rebuild that desperately needed a steady leader. A five-year starter from 2018 to 2022, Ahlers set ECU’s all-time records for passing yards (13,927), touchdowns (122 total), and total offense.
He holds the single-game record for passing yards (535 vs. Cincinnati in 2019) and brought the Pirates back to relevance, culminating in a dominant Birmingham Bowl win over Coastal Carolina in 2022 — ECU’s first bowl victory in nearly a decade.
Ahlers wasn’t just a record-setter — he was a stabilizing force and a symbol of hometown pride. His choice to stay and lead ECU back to national respect made him a modern legend.
5. Marcus Crandell (1993–1996)
Jersey Number: No. 5
Career Passing Yards: 7,198 (5th all-time)
Top Season: 2,687 yards and 18 TDs in 1996
Why He Matters:
Wearing No. 5, Marcus Crandell delivered calm, consistency, and clutch performances for ECU in the mid-1990s. He helped the Pirates to a 9-3 season in 1995, capped by a Liberty Bowl win over Stanford — one of the program’s signature bowl victories.
Crandell was named the 1994 Liberty Bowl Alliance Co-Offensive Player of the Year, the 1995 North Carolina College Football Player of the Year, and earned All-Independent honors from the AP and Football News. He also claimed Liberty Bowl Alliance Player of the Week honors three times in 1995.
After ECU, he played in the Canadian Football League, winning a Grey Cup and MVP honors in 2001. A member of the ECU Hall of Fame, Crandell helped bridge eras and provided the leadership ECU needed to stay nationally competitive.
Honorable Mentions
Dominique Davis (2010–2011) – Holds two top-10 single-season passing totals and lit up the stat sheet in Ruffin McNeill’s early years.
Patrick Pinkney (2006–2009) – Helped ECU win back-to-back C-USA championships under Skip Holtz.
James Pinkney (2003–2006) – Nearly 8,200 passing yards and a steady presence through transition.
Blake Kemp (2015) – Holds one of ECU’s top-5 single-game passing yard totals (465 vs. UCF).
Conclusion
From Jeff Blake’s Peach Bowl magic to Holton Ahlers’ hometown legacy, each of these quarterbacks left their mark on ECU football in a different way. Some lifted trophies, others broke records but all of them helped shape what it means to wear the Purple and Gold under center.