East Carolina Pirates College Football Media Day Quote, 08/04/2021

On how the team has improved entering the 2021 season:

Certainly the last year, year and a half has been unprecedented, but at least having the spring and a full summer with the players here. Being able to train with the strength and conditioning staff, being able to spend time with our coaching staff, we do have a young roster but they’ve grown so much. We’re bigger, faster and stronger than we were a year ago and our depth is improved drastically. We really like the roster we have in our program right now so we’re excited about this fall and beyond, too. It’s positive days ahead.

On current COVID testing protocols and how they might change in the weeks ahead:

With basically 99 percent of our roster vaccinated, most of our players and staff will not be tested. We do have a few unvaccinated members of our program and they will be tested once a week leading up to the opener. Once we get up to opening week, we will be following AAC protocols which is a negative PCR test 48 hours prior to competing. We’re all trying to be cautious with students coming back to campus, we still want to protect our vaccinated guys even beyond that, so we’ll have some protocols in place as well.

On the evolution of the team’s rushing attack:

We didn’t have one in 2019, it was really challenging that year. We were able to bring in young talented backs in Rahjai Harris and Keaton Mitchell. Our offensive line has made incredible strides, it’s by far the best offensive line we’ve had going into a year as I sit here today. We want to be balanced, we don’t want to be one dimensional, and so it’s an important factor for our offense as a whole that we have the ability to run the ball better. I like who we are right now, I think we’re going to be more effective this fall and it’s going to help us throwing the ball.

QB Holton Ahlers

On raising his completion percentage over the course of his career:

It’s (definitely) about completion percentage. Anytime you can get the ball in the hands of our guys, we have good skill position players at every single position. Getting the ball into their hands is for the better. If I can continue to raise that it’s for the better.

CB Ja’Quan McMillan

On what quarterbacks should know about him with seven INT in last two seasons:

Just know that I’m going to compete at a high level, every play. I guess not to come to my side. I study film a lot and I am going to know what’s coming.