The East Carolina Pirates football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the East Carolina Pirates football program in various categories, 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 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. 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. 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. Since 2018, players have been allowed to participate in as many as four games in a redshirt season; previously, playing in even one game "burned" the redshirt. Since 2024, postseason games have not counted against the four-game limit. These changes to redshirt rules have given very recent players several extra games to accumulate statistics.
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 2025 regular season.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career 1 Holton Ahlers 13,927 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2 Shane Carden 11,991 2012 2013 2014 3 David Garrard 9,029 1998 1999 2000 20014James Pinkney8,1732003 2004 2005 20065Marcus Crandell7,1981993 1994 1995 19966Dominique Davis7,1922010 20117Patrick Pinkney6,9802005 2006 2007 2008 20098Katin Houser5,306 2024 20259Jeff Blake5,1331988 1989 1990 199110Travis Hunter3,9281986 1987 1988 1989
+ Single season1Shane Carden4,73620142Shane Carden4,12920133Dominique Davis3,9672010 4 Holton Ahlers 3,708 2022 5 Holton Ahlers 3,387 20196Katin Houser3,300 2025 7 Dominique Davis3,2252011 8 Holton Ahlers 3,126 2021 9 Shane Carden3,116201210 Jeff Blake3,0731991
+ Single game 1 Holton Ahlers 535 2019 Cincinnati 2 Holton Ahlers 498 2019 SMU 3 Shane Carden480 2013 Tulane 4 Blake Kemp 465 2015 UCF Holton Ahlers 465 2022 South Florida 6 Holton Ahlers 449 2018 Memphis 7 Shane Carden447 2013 Old Dominion 8 Shane Carden445 2014 UConn 9 Shane Carden4392012 Marshall 10 Shane Carden438 2014 North Carolina
Passing touchdowns
+ Career 1 Holton Ahlers 97 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2 Shane Carden 86 2012 2013 20143Dominique Davis622010 20114David Garrard601998 1999 2000 20015Marcus Crandell581993 1994 1995 19966James Pinkney462003 2004 2005 20067Jeff Blake431988 1989 1990 19918Patrick Pinkney392005 2006 2007 2008 20099Katin Houser37 2024 202510Travis Hunter321986 1987 1988 1989
+ Single season1Dominique Davis3720102Shane Carden3320133Shane Carden3020144Jeff Blake281991 Holton Ahlers 28 20226Dominique Davis252011 7 Michael Anderson 23 1992 Shane Carden 23 20129 Marcus Crandell 21 1994 Holton Ahlers 21 2019
+ Single game 1 Holton Ahlers 6 2019 SMU Holton Ahlers 6 2022 South Florida3Dominique Davis52010TulsaDominique Davis52010NavyDominique Davis52010UABShane Carden52012MemphisShane Carden5 2013Old DominionShane Carden5 2013TulsaShane Carden5 2013UABPhilip Nelson5 2016Western CarolinaHolton Ahlers52022Coastal CarolinaKatin Houser52024TempleKatin Houser52024Florida Atlantic
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Junior Smith3,7451991 1992 1993 19942Rahjai Harris3,092 2020 2021 2022 2023 20243Leonard Henry3,0891998 1999 2000 2001 4 Keaton Mitchell 3,027 2020 2021 20225Chris Johnson2,9822004 2005 2006 2007 6 Carlester Crumpler Sr.2,8891971 1972 1973 7 Tony Baker2,8251982 1983 1984 1985 8 Theodore Sutton 2,730 1977 1978 1979 1980 9 Butch Colson 2,512 1967 1968 1969 10 Scott Harley 2,465 1995 1996 1997
+ Single season1Scott Harley1,7451996 2 Keaton (Deuce) Mitchell 1,452 20223Leonard Henry1,43220014Chris Johnson1,42320075Junior Smith1,3521993 6 Carlester Crumpler Sr.1,3091972 7 Junior Smith1,2041993 8 Vintavious Cooper1,1932013 9 Dominique Lindsay1,180200910Rahjai Harris1,166 2024
+ Single game1Scott Harley3511996NC State2Chris Johnson3012007Memphis3Scott Harley2911996South Carolina4Junior Smith2821993Tulsa5Billy Wightman2451969Davidson6Leonard Henry2342001Cincinnati7Junior Smith2321992Arkansas State8Chris Johnson2232007Boise State 9 Keaton Mitchell 222 2021 Tulane Keaton Mitchell 222 2022 Temple
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1Carlester Crumpler Sr.371971 1972 19732Chris Johnson322004 2005 2006 20073Junior Smith271991 1992 1993 1994Leonard Henry291998 1999 2000 2001Rahjai Harris29 2020 2021 2022 2023 20246Butch Colson271967 1968 19697Tony Collins261977 1978 1979 19808 Holton Ahlers 25 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Keaton Mitchell 25 2020 2021 2022 10 Ken Strayhorn 24 1972 1973 1974 1975 Shane Carden 24 2012 2013 2014
+ Single season1Dave Alexander171965Carlester Crumpler Sr.171972Chris Johnson1720074Leonard Henry1620015Butch Colson1519676Tony Collins141979Art Brown142002 Keaton Mitchell 14 2022 9 Vintavious Cooper 13 2013 10 Carlester Crumpler Sr. 121973 Leander Green121979
+ Single game1Scott Harley61996Ohio
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1Zay Jones399 2013 2014 2015 20162Justin Hardy3872011 2012 2013 20143Dwayne Harris2682007 2008 2009 20104Tyler Snead201 2018 2019 2020 2021 5 Trevon Brown189 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 6 C. J. Johnson 175 2019 2020 2021 2022 7 Jason Nichols1521994 1995 1996 1997 8 Lance Lewis1492010 2011 9 Aundrae Allison1452005 2006 10 Terrance Copper1392000 2001 2002 2003
+ Single season1Zay Jones158 20162Justin Hardy12120143Justin Hardy11420134Dwayne Harris10120105Zay Jones9820156Lance Lewis8920107Justin Hardy882012 Isaiah Winstead 88 20229Terrance Copper87200310Aundrae Allison832005Dwayne Harris832009
+ Single game1Zay Jones22 2016South Carolina2Zay Jones19 2016ConnecticutTyler Snead19 2019SMU4Zay Jones18 2016South Florida5Justin Hardy17 2013TulaneZay Jones17 2016UCF7Justin Hardy162012MarshallJustin Hardy16 2013Old DominionTyler Snead16 2019UConnTyler Snead16 2020 Tulsa
Receiving yards
+ Career1Justin Hardy4,5412011 2012 2013 20142Zay Jones4,279 2013 2014 2015 20163Dwayne Harris3,0012007 2008 2009 20104Trevon Brown2,952 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 5 C. J. Johnson 2,849 2019 2020 2021 2022 6 Tyler Snead2,374 2018 2019 2020 2021 7 Troy Smith1,9821995 1996 1997 19988Anthony Smith1,8522024 2025 9 Davon Grayson 1,767 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 10 Mitchell Galloway 1,754 1993 1994 1995 1996
+ Single season1Zay Jones1,746 20162Justin Hardy1,49420133Justin Hardy1,28420134Dwayne Harris1,1232010Trevon Brown1,12320186Lance Lewis1,11620107Justin Hardy1,10520128Zay Jones1,0992015 9 Isaiah Winstead 1,085 202210Trevon Brown1,069 2017
+ Single game 1 C.J. Johnson 283 2019Cincinnati2Trevon Brown 270 2017Cincinnati3Tyler Snead 240 2019SMU4Justin Hardy 230 2013Tulane5 Cam Worthy 224 2014Virginia Tech6 Davon Grayson 223 2017UConn7Terry Gallaher2181975Appalachian State8Zay Jones212 2016Navy9Zay Jones206 2016Tulsa10C.J. Johnson1972022 South Florida
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Justin Hardy352011 2012 2013 20142Trevon Brown242014 2015 2016 2017 20183Zay Jones23 2013 2014 2015 20164Lance Lewis222010 20115Larry Shannon211994 1995 1996 1997 C.J. Johnson 21 2019 2020 2021 2022 7 Dwayne Harris 20 2007 2008 2009 2010 8 Tyler Snead18 2018 2019 2020 2021 9 Clayton Driver171989 1990 1991 1992 10 Walter Wilson161986 1987 1988 1989
+ Single season1Lance Lewis142010
+ Single game1Walter Wilson41989Pittsburgh C.J. Johnson42022South Florida
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career 1 Holton Ahlers 15,373 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2 Shane Carden 12,244 2011 2012 2013 20143David Garrard10,238 1998 1999 2000 20014James Pinkney8,563 2003 2004 2005 20065Marcus Crandell7,641 1993 1994 1995 19966Dominique Davis7,505 2010 20117Patrick Pinkney7,417 2005 2006 2007 2008 20098Katin Houser5,669 2024 20259Jeff Blake5,618 1988 1989 1990 199110Travis Hunter5,196 1986 1987 1988 1989
+ Single season1Shane Carden4,812 20142Shane Carden4,242 20133Dominique Davis4,108 2010 4 Holton Ahlers 3,890 20225Holton Ahlers3,746 20196Katin Houser3,493 2025 7 Dominique Davis3,397 2011 8 Holton Ahlers 3,330 2021 9 Shane Carden3,190 2012 10 Jeff Blake3,182 1991
+ Single game 1 Holton Ahlers 556 2019 Cincinnati 2 Holton Ahlers 523 2019 SMU 3 Holton Ahlers 506 2018 Memphis 4 Shane Carden 477 2014 UConn 5 Holton Ahlers 474 2022 South Florida6Blake Kemp468 2015 UCF7Shane Carden457 2014 SMU8Shane Carden455 2013 Tulane9Marcus Crandell4531995 Syracuse Holton Ahlers4531995 Navy
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
+ Career 1 Holton Ahlers 122 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2 Shane Carden 110 2011 2012 2013 20143David Garrard81 1998 1999 2000 20014Dominique Davis76 2010 20115Marcus Crandell65 1993 1994 1995 19966James Pinkney57 2003 2004 2005 20067Jeff Blake51 1988 1989 1990 19918Katin Houser50 2024 20259Travis Hunter47 1986 1987 1988 198910Patrick Pinkney44 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
+ Single season1Dominique Davis46 20102Shane Carden43 20133Shane Carden36 2014 4 Holton Ahlers 34 20225Jeff Blake31 1991Shane Carden31 20127Dominique Davis30 2011
+ Single game1Shane Carden7 2013 Tulsa
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
+ Career1Jim Bolding221973 1974 1975 1976
+ Single season1Jim Bolding101975
+ Single game 1 10 times 3 Most recent:Greg Grandison, 1991 vs. UCF
Tackles
+ Career1Harold Randolph4931974 1975 1976 1977
+ Single season1Jeffrey Warren1841980
+ Single game1Pernell Griffin242001Wake ForestChris Moore242003Cincinnati
Sacks
+ Career1Roderick Coleman39.01995 1996 1997 1998
+ Single season1Roderick Coleman15.01997
+ Single game 1 Roderick Coleman 4.0 1997 Wake Forest Montese Overton 4.0 2015 SMU
Kicking
Field goals made
+ Career1Jake Verity74 2016 2017 2018 2019 20202Ben Hartman592006 2007 2008 20093Jeff Heath531982 1983 1984 19854Kevin Miller521999 2000 2001 2002
+ Single season1Jake Verity24 20192Ben Hartman212008
+ Single game 1 Andrew Conrad52023Florida 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.
+ Career 1 Michael Barbour 80.0% 2010 2011
+ Single season 1 Jake Verity 90.5% 2019
References