- Zay Jones is the NCAA leader in receptions with 399.
- Justin Hardy is second in NCAA history in receptions with 387.
- Holton Ahlers holds the program record in passing yards with 13,927 yards over 50 starts.
The East Carolina Pirates haven’t had a ton of success on a national level, but they’ve been incredibly productive in one specific area: wide receiver receptions.
They possess the top two all-time NCAA reception record holders.
Further, football betting on their college football odds is available at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
See the top five Pirates of all time below.
5 Best East Carolina Pirates Football Players, Ranked
| Rank | Player | Position | Pirates Years |
| 1 | Zay Jones | WR | 2013-2016 |
| 2 | Justin Hardy | WR | 2011-2014 |
| 3 | Holton Ahlers | QB | 2018-2022 |
| 4 | Shane Carden | QB | 2012-2014 |
| 5 | David Garrard | QB | 1998-2001 |
East Carolina Pirates All-Time Greatest Football Players
1. Zay Jones
Jones played wide receiver for East Carolina from 2013 to 2016.
He had 399 receptions. Not only is that the East Carolina record, but it’s the NCAA record. He broke the previous record held by fellow East Carolina wide receiver Justin Hardy.
He had 158 catches in 2016, which, again, is an NCAA record.
Jones had 4,279 receiving yards (second in program history) and 23 touchdowns (second).
He was a first-team All-American and a first-team All-AAC selection.
2. Justin Hardy
As mentioned, Hardy previously held the NCAA receptions record with 387.
In addition to those catches, he had 4,541 yards (second) and 35 touchdowns (first). So, outside of the receptions, he holds two other program records.
He was also first-team All-AAC, two-time first-team All-Conference USA, and won the Burlsworth Trophy in 2014, which is given annually to the best FBS player who began their career as a walk-on.
3. Holton Ahlers
Ahlers played for East Carolina from 2018 to 2022. He started five games in 2018, and over his five-year tenure, he started 50 games.
He threw for 13,927 yards (most in program history). He holds three of the top seven single-season passing yardage records, headlined by 3,708 in 2022 (fourth).
He also holds the top two single-game passing records. He threw for 535 yards in 2019 against Cincinnati.
Ahlers also tossed 97 touchdowns (first) and ran in 25 (eighth).
4. Shane Carden
Carden was the signal-caller from 2012 to 2014.
He threw for 11,991 yards (second) and had 4,736 passing yards in 2014, which is the single-season record.
Carden also had 86 passing touchdowns (second) and 24 rushing scores (tied for 10th).
Carden was the AAC Offensive Player of the Year, first-team All-AAC, Conference USA MVP, and first-team All-Conference USA.
5. David Garrard
Garrard suited up for East Carolina from 1998 to 2001.
He threw for 9,029 yards (third) and 60 touchdowns (fourth).
He was second-team All-Conference USA three times.
Over his career, he racked up 10,238 total yards (third).
Garrard had an upset win against Miami in 1999, beating them 27-23 after initially being down 20-3. Miami was ranked No. 13 at the time.
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