Holton Ahlers

Ahlers will enter his fifth season with the Pirates in a very different situation than the 2021 season. The senior quarterback threw for 3,126 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions (256-of-414) in 2021, but of the four receivers who broke 35 catches last season for East Carolina, three of them are not part of the program in 2022. Tyler Snead was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Steelers, CJ Johnson was suspended indefinitely from the program in February, and Audie Omotosho utilized his final year of eligibility in 2021. Ahlers will need to rely on a new set of receivers in 2022. Notable names looking to take on a large role with the program in 2022 include: incoming Georgia transfer Jaylen Johnson, who notched five catches for 49 yards in six games with the Bulldogs, and junior Jsi Hatfield, who tallied 15 catches for 294 yards and three touchdowns with the Pirates in 2021. East Carolina will retain workhorse running backs Keaton Mitchell and Rahjai Harris, along with tight end Ryan Jones (37 catches for 442 yards and five touchdowns in 2021), which should help smooth out the offensive efficiency in this transition period, but Ahlers will need to adapt in order to have success in 2022 with East Carolina.