The 2024 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Pirates were led by Mike Houston in his sixth year as the head coach for the team's first seven games. The Pirates played their home games at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, located in Greenville, North Carolina.
On October 20, head coach Mike Houston was fired after back-to-back blowout losses to Charlotte and Army. Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell was named the team's interim head coach.
Offseason Transfers
OutgoingZion AgnewWRLenoir–RhyneOmari AllenIOLHamptonO'Mega BlakeWRCharlotteShane CalhounTETexas A&MRyan CapriottiKMarylandDavid ChapeauPCentral MichiganRance ConnerCBValdosta StateGrant CopelandIOLLenoir–RhyneRa Ra DillworthLBBaylorDru DotterCBCatawbaKamarro EdmondsRBJohnson C. SmithAntonio FergusonTEFIUIsaiah FooteOTWestern IllinoisMason GarciaQBAustin PeayColby GarfieldLSOhioGerald GreenRBTroyAntione JacksonCBUCFTeylor JacksonLBLibertyRyan KingWRMontana StateTyquan KingLBTempleLaith MarjanKSouth AlabamaJoseph McKayRBValdosta StateXavier McIverDLUT MartinTy MossSTennessee TechRichard PearceIOLNew MexicoElisha SamplesIOLWoffordQae'shon SappIOLSMUJason ShufordDLMarshallKendarius SmallOTJacksonville StateCarson SmithKAustin PeayRico WatkinsCBUnknownTeagan WilkSHoustonBrock WinsteadLSEast Tennessee StateJamari YoungLBGardner–Webb
IncomingNoah PerezKAkronConner MaynardPAppalachian StateShane PerryLBBartonPanda AskewOLCharlotteQae'shon SappIOLFlorida StateWinston Wright Jr.WRFlorida StateBryson HarrisonQBGeorgia StateKarson JonesIOLHoustonNoah HolmesLBJames MadisonJayson TarpehOLLackawannaRyheem CraigDLLouisvilleGage RealeTELouisvilleDarius BellOTMaineGavin GibsonCBMarylandKatin HouserQBMichigan StateJake GarciaQBMissouriDameon WilsonLBMissouriAnthony SmithWRNC StateAyden DuncansonSNorth CarolinaJaden McKenzieDLOhio StateJayvontay ConnerTEOle MissCasey KellyTEOregonLondon MontgomeryRBPenn StateO'Mega BlakeWRSouth CarolinaAndrew Wilson-LampCBWest Virginia
Schedule
Game summaries Norfolk State (FCS)
Statistics NORFECU First downs 7 31 Plays–yards 64–114 74–506 Rushes–yards 45–43 35–148 Passing yards 71 358 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–19–1 26–39–3 Time of possession 36:25 23:35 Team Category Player StatisticsNorfolk State Passing Jalen Daniels 8/19, 71 yards, 1 INT Rushing Kevon King 5 carries, 26 yards Receiving Jacquez Jones 3 receptions, 31 yardsEast Carolina Passing Jake Garcia 23/36, 308 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT Rushing London Montgomery 14 carries, 67 yards Receiving Anthony Smith 5 receptions, 86 yards, 1 TD
at Old Dominion
Statistics ECUODU First downs 26 17 Plays–yards 89–466 75–287 Rushes–yards 51–183 41–95 Passing yards 283 192 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–38–4 20–34–1 Time of possession 32:47 27:13 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Jake Garcia 25/38, 283 yards, 4 INT Rushing Rahjai Harris 26 carries, 131 yards, 2 TD Receiving Anthony Smith 5 receptions, 70 yardsOld Dominion Passing Grant Wilson 20/34, 192 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Aaron Young 25 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD Receiving Diante Vines 6 receptions, 64 yards
Appalachian State
Statistics APPECU First downs 25 16 Plays–yards 83–505 58–324 Rushes–yards 36–81 30–98 Passing yards 424 226 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 32–47–2 18–28–1 Time of possession 39:00 21:00 Team Category Player StatisticsAppalachian State Passing Joey Aguilar 32/47, 424 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Anderson Castle 17 carries, 40 yards Receiving Kaedin Robinson 7 receptions, 129 yardsEast Carolina Passing Jake Garcia 18/28, 226 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Rahjai Harris 18 carries, 87 yards Receiving Winston Wright Jr. 3 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD
at Liberty
Statistics ECULIB First downs 21 26 Plays–yards 68–331 77–414 Rushes–yards 32–127 45–191 Passing yards 204 223 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–36–1 19–32–1 Time of possession 23:17 36:43 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Jake Garcia 20/36, 204 yards, 1 INT Rushing Rahjai Harris 13 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD Receiving Chase Sowell 5 receptions, 72 yardsLiberty Passing Kaidon Salter 19/32, 223 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT Rushing Quinton Cooley 19 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD Receiving Reese Smith 6 receptions, 80 yards, 3 TD
UTSA
Statistics UTSAECU First downs 18 18 Plays–yards 89–456 71–341 Rushes–yards 38–170 36–47 Passing yards 286 294 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–51–2 17–35–2 Time of possession 32:20 27:40 Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Owen McCown 24/49, 251 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Brandon High 7 carries, 92 yards, TD Receiving Willie McCoy 4 receptions, 91 yardsEast Carolina Passing Jake Garcia 17/35, 294 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Rahjai Harris 25 carries, 60 yards Receiving Chase Sowell 4 receptions, 67 yards
at Charlotte
Statistics ECUCLT First downs 18 26 Plays–yards 62–343 74–517 Rushes–yards 25–148 52–311 Passing yards 195 206 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–37–2 13–22–0 Time of possession 19:06 40:54 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Jake Garcia 6/8, 111 yards, TD, INT Rushing London Montgomery 3 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving Chase Sowell 4 receptions, 82 yardsCharlotte Passing Deshawn Purdie 13/22, 206 yards Rushing Hahsaun Wilson 15 carries, 164 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jairus Mack 3 receptions, 81 yards
at No. 23 Army
Statistics ECUARMY First downs 20 22 Plays–yards 58–369 66–442 Rushes–yards 20–87 56–295 Passing yards 282 147 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–38–1 7–10–0 Time of possession 22:40 37:20 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Katin Houser 24/38, 282 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Rahjai Harris 9 carries, 34 yards Receiving Chase Sowell 7 receptions, 138 yards, TDArmy Passing Bryson Daily 7/10, 147 yards, TD Rushing Bryson Daily 31 carries, 171 yards, 5 TD Receiving Casey Reynolds 3 receptions, 85 yards
Temple
Statistics TEMECU First downs 23 19 Plays–yards 79–405 65–500 Rushes–yards 38–111 36–231 Passing yards 294 269 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–41–3 16–29–2 Time of possession 33:27 26:33 Team Category Player StatisticsTemple Passing Evan Simon 23/41, 294 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Rushing Terrez Worthy 20 carries, 88 yards, TD Receiving Ashton Allen 4 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TDEast Carolina Passing Katin Houser 16/29, 269 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Rushing Rahjai Harris 11 carries, 130 yards, TD Receiving Chase Sowell 4 receptions, 117 yards, TD
Florida Atlantic
Statistics FAUECU First downs 20 23 Plays–yards 75–399 56–581 Rushes–yards 32–137 34–238 Passing yards 262 343 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–43–2 17–22–0 Time of possession 36:48 23:12 Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida Atlantic Passing Kasen Weisman 20/35, 188 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kasen Weisman 6 carries, 41 yards Receiving Jabari Smith Jr. 5 receptions, 64 yards, TDEast Carolina Passing Katin Houser 17/22, 343 yards, 5 TD Rushing Jhari Patterson 3 carries, 61 yards Receiving Anthony Smith 3 receptions, 120 yards, TD
at Tulsa
Statistics ECUTLSA First downs 27 19 Plays–yards 79–536 69–399 Rushes–yards 42–222 36–106 Passing yards 314 293 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–37–3 20–33–1 Time of possession 28:53 31:07 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Katin Houser 24/37, 314 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Rahjai Harris 18 carries, 114 yards, 2 TD Receiving Anthony Smith 3 receptions, 84 yardsTulsa Passing Cooper Legas 20/32, 293 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Cooper Legas 13 carries, 43 yards Receiving Joseph Williams 5 receptions, 158 yards, 3 TD
at North Texas
Statistics ECUUNT First downs 26 30 Plays–yards 81–553 84–447 Rushes–yards 57–255 36–181 Passing yards 298 266 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–24–1 32–48–0 Time of possession 28:33 31:27 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Katin Houser 16/23, 298 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Rahjai Harris 24 carries, 128 yards, 3 TD Receiving Anthony Smith 4 receptions, 121 yards, TDNorth Texas Passing Chandler Morris 32/48, 266 yards, 3 TD Rushing Shane Porter 17 carries, 74 yards Receiving Damon Ward Jr. 5 receptions, 68 yards
Navy
Statistics NAVYECU First downs 21 19 Plays–yards 72–458 70–350 Rushes–yards 53–293 34–131 Passing yards 165 219 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–19–0 20–36–1 Time of possession 34:30 25:30 Team Category Player StatisticsNavy Passing Braxton Woodson 12/19, 165 yards, TD Rushing Braxton Woodson 15 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD Receiving Nathan Kent 2 receptions, 68 yards, TD East Carolina Passing Katin Houser 20/36, 219 yards, TD, INT Rushing Rahjai Harris 19 carries, 88 yards Receiving Yannick Smith 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD
NC State (Military Bowl / rivalry)
Statistics ECUNCST First downs 22 21 Total yards 473 428 Rushing yards 326 198 Passing yards 147 230 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–29–2 19–26–1 Time of possession 26:37 33:23 Team Category Player StatisticsEast Carolina Passing Katin Houser 18/29, 147 yards, 2 INT Rushing Rahjai Harris 17 carries, 221 yards, 1 TD Receiving Yannick Smith 3 receptions, 56 yardsNC State Passing CJ Bailey 19/26, 230 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Hollywood Smothers 15 carries, 142 yards Receiving Noah Rogers 5 receptions, 59 yards
Roster
Statistics
Team East Carolina Opp Points per Game Total First downs Rushing Passing Penalty Rushing yards Avg per play Avg per game Rushing touchdowns Passing yards Att-Comp-Int Avg per pass Avg per catch Avg per game Passing touchdowns Total Offense Avg per Play Avg per Game Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Avg per Game Punts-Yards Avg per Punt Time of Possession/Game 3rd Down Conversions 4th Down Conversions Touchdowns Scored Field Goals-Attempts PAT-Attempts Attendance Games/Avg per Game Neutral Site
Individual Leaders
Offense Passing statistics # NAME POS RAT CMP ATT YDS AVG/G CMP% TD INT LONG QB – – – – – – – – – QB – – – – – – – – – QB – – – – – – – – – QB – – – – – – – – – TOTALS – – – – – – – – –
Rushing statistics # NAME POS ATT GAIN AVG TD LONG AVG/G RB – – – – – – RB – – – – – – RB – – – – – – RB – – – – – – RB – – – – – – RB – – – – – – TOTALS – – – – – –
Receiving statistics # NAME POS CTH YDS AVG TD LONG AVG/G WR – – – – – – WR – – – – – – WR – – – – – – WR – – – – – – WR – – – – – – WR – – – – – – WR – – – – – – WR – – – – – – WR – – – – – – TE – – – – – – TE – – – – – – TE – – – – – – TE – – – – – – TE – – – – – – TOTALS – – – – – –
Defense Defense statistics # NAME POS SOLO AST TOT TFL-YDS SACK-YDS INT-YDS BU QBH FR FF BLK SAF TD DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – DL – – – – – – – – – – – – – RUSH – – – – – – – – – – – – – RUSH – – – – – – – – – – – – – RUSH – – – – – – – – – – – – – RUSH – – – – – – – – – – – – – RUSH – – – – – – – – – – – – – LB – – – – – – – – – – – – – LB – – – – – – – – – – – – – LB – – – – – – – – – – – – – LB – – – – – – – – – – – – – LB – – – – – – – – – – – – – LB – – – – – – – – – – – – – LB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DB – – – – – – – – – – – – – Team – – – – – – – – – – – – – TOTAL – – – – – – – – – – – – –