The Cape Fear Heroes are pleased to announce the signing of former East Carolina quarterback Patrick Pinkney. During his college career at ECU Patrick completed 563 passes for 6981 yards and 39 touchdowns through the air while rushing for another 437 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. He lead his Pirates to back to back Conference USA Championship Games (2008, 2009) and three consecutive bowl games the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (2007) and the Liberty Bowl (2008, 2009).

Patrick went to Pine Forest High School in Fayetteville North Carolina where he threw for 1,680 yards and 12 TDs completing 122-of-137 passes as a senior team captain while also rushing for 1,172 yards and 17 scores on 202 carries for coach Dean Saffos. He was a four-year starter at Pine Forrest and led his squad to the third round of the state playoffs during his senior season. In addition he earned all-conference honors as a sophomore, junior and senior and was chosen to the all-state squad and selected to play in the East-West All-Star game after his senior campaign. Patrick played a key role for a Trojan program that produced a four-year record of 30-14, he was named freshman-of-the-year after an outstanding rookie year (led team to 8-3 mark) and was rated as the 31st-best prospect in North Carolina by SuperPrep Magazine. Patrick also earned four varsity letters each in basketball and baseball and in the classroom he earned selection to Honor Roll and was chosen as Pine Forest's "Most Outstanding Senior." 

College Career

2009: Patrick lead the East Carolina Pirates to a 9–5 season, 7–1 in CUSA play, winning the East Division in their final regular season game against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles 25-20, and led them to their second consecutive CUSA Championship Game 38–32 against the Houston Cougars in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The Pirates were invited to their second consecutive Liberty Bowl where they were defeated by Arkansas 20–17 in overtime. In 2009 Pinkney was 259 of 440 for 2948 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.

2008: Opened 13 of 14 games and completed 223-of-363 passes for 2,675 yards and 13 touchdowns, which included a season-high 296-yard effort against Kentucky in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Established a new school single-game completion percentage standard with a 19-of-23 (82.6 percent) performance against No. 17 Virginia Tech before turning in a 22-of-28 (78.6) effort a week later against No. 8 West Virginia - both accomplishments resulting in ECU victories. Selected as the C-USA Offensive Player-of-the-Week for play against the Hokies and picked up AT&T All-America Player-of-the-Week and Rivals.com Player-of-the-Week accolades for accomplishments vs. the Mountaineers. In addition, earned an ESPN GameDay Final helmet sticker for performance against West Virginia while his 13-yard TD pass to Alex Taylor with 0:47 remaining in the second quarter (extended ECU's lead to 17-3 at halftime) was nominated as the Pontiac Game Changing Play-of-the-Week. Had eight-game starting streak snapped against UCF before regaining top spot against Marshall. Passed for 200 or more yards on eight occasions, including four in a row (211/Virginia Tech, 236/West Virginia, 260/Tulane, 210/N.C. State) to begin season, increasing career total to 10. Added other four 200-plus yard outings in last six contests (287/Marshall, 222/UAB, 228/UTEP, 296/Kentucky). 

Accounted for a passing touchdown in 11 games, including six straight to open the season. Booked two scoring passes in a contest twice (Tulane, UTEP). In addition to the season-high 296-yard aerial effort, also turned in a personal-long completion of 80 yards (TD to Darryl Freeney) against Wildcats during bowl action. Rushed for 50 yards on 90 carries with a long of 14 (Tulane). Contributed only ground touchdown in season opener vs. Virginia Tech - a three-yard run late in the third period. Top rushing effort of year was a 38-yard, nine-carry performance vs. N.C. State at Carter-Finley Stadium. Also picked up 24 yards on 11 attempts vs. Hokies. Connected on first eight passing attempts vs. West Virginia (6-of-6 for 62 yards in first quarter). Other long completion of note was a 51-yard TD throw to Norman Whitley vs. Tulane. Enjoyed a stretch of 11 consecutive completions against Green Wave (0:18 mark of second quarter to 2:51 mark of third quarter) after opening the game 2-of-6. Guided ECU on a game-winning drive that ended with a 24-yard TD pass to Jamar Bryant with 1:41 remaining (completed 3-of-4 passes for 64 yards and rushed four times for 21 yards during march). Bounced back from Memphis and UCF contests (combined 118 yards on 9-of-21 passing) with a 287-yard outing vs. Marshall (season-bests in completions/26 and attempts/37). Suffered a total of seven interceptions, a season-high two coming at Southern Miss. Completed 19-of-25 passes for 222 yards vs. UAB, connecting on the first four of the game for 60 yards. Followed with a 17-of-23, 228-yard afternoon against UTEP. Connected with Freeney (32-yarder) and Brandon Simmons (seven) on scoring strikes vs. Miners while leading East Carolina to season-bests in rushing yards (231), total yards (475) and points (53). Guided Pirates to scores on all eight offensive possessions while under center (5 TD, 3 FG) against UTEP. Found Kevin Gidrey on a 13-yard touchdown throw to open ECU's scoring vs. Tulsa in the C-USA Championship Game before finishing with 122 yards (10-of-24). Completed first four pass attempts for 62 yards during Pirates' first drive against Golden Hurricane. Finished season with an 18-of-36 effort vs. Kentucky at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

2007: Part of a duo-quarterback system who started five of 13 games played (North Carolina, Southern Miss, West Virginia, Houston and Boise State). Completed 60.5 percent of his passes (121-for-200) for 1,358 yards with 11 TDs and four interceptions. Accounted for at least two TDs in the air in four games (3/North Carolina, 2/Southern Miss, 2/UAB, 2/Memphis). Ranked sixth in Conference USA in passing efficiency (131.7). Ran for 306 yards (3.9 ypc) with one score, ranking second on the team. Had career-best effort in first-ever collegiate start against in-state rival North Carolina, passing for 406 yards (31-of-41) and three scores to earn C-USA Offensive Player-of-the-Week and College Sports Report Player-of-the-Week honors. Also received an ESPN Gameday Final helmet sticker for play against the Tar Heels. Made long-awaited college debut at Virginia Tech, coming off the bench to relieve starter Brett Clay with a 14-of-25, team-high 115-yard passing performance. Also ran for an additional 48 yards on nine carries against Hokies. Turned in only other 200-plus-yard of season against Southern Miss (203) after completing 20-of-33 tosses. Did not reach triple digit passing totals again until producing the milestone in four of the last five games. Shook off a five-game (West Virginia/7-of-14 for 43, Houston/5-of-14 for 46, UCF/3-of-4 for 9, UTEP/0-of-1 and N.C. State /0-of-2) struggles by bouncing back to complete six-of-seven passes for 159 and two TDs against UAB on Oct. 27. Added 105 air yards (8-of-16) and a career-high rushing 94 yards on eight carries at Memphis. Scored on a personal-long 45-yard run in the first quarter. Connected on 13-of-21 passes for 109 yards a week later vs. Marshall before experiencing limited action in regular season finale against Tulane (2-of-3, 45 yards). Earned fifth start of season against Boise State in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl and completed 12-of-19 passes for 118 yards and a score. Found Chris Johnson on an 18-yard touchdown strike midway through the second quarter that pushed the Pirates' lead to 24-7.

2006: Member of scout team while completing his rehabilitation assignments.

2005: Did not participate during fall season (surgery, rehabilitation). Was cleared to participate in spring drills but was not allowed to partake in any contact work before re-injuring shoulder prior to preseason camp.

2004: Spent most of the season on the Pirates' redshirt roster, nursing a sore shoulder. Was activated by previous coaching staff to play in the Pirates' JV contest against Hargrave Military Academy Oct. 12 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Completed 10-of-22 passes for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead ECU to a 19-7 win. Tossed scoring passes to Bryson Bowling (14 yards) and Steven Rogers (19 yards). 

Patrick Pinkney Statistics

CAREER STATS
SEASON	CMP	ATT	YDS	CMP%	YPA	LNG	TD	INT	SACK	RAT
2007	121	200	1358	60.5	6.79	78	11	4	12	131.7
2008	223	363	2675	61.4	7.37	80	13	7	20	131.3
2009	259	440	2948	58.9	6.70	59	15	12	13	120.9

 

PASSING Stats
YEAR		TEAM		CMP	ATT		PCT	YDS		AVG	TD		LNG	INT		RAT
2007		ECU		121	200		60.5	1358		6.8	11		78	4		131.7
2008		ECU		223	363		61.4	2675		7.4	13		80	7		131.3
2009		ECU		259	440		58.9	2948		6.7	15		59	12		120.9
RUSHING Stats
YEAR	TEAM		ATT			YDS			AVG			LNG			TD
2007	ECU		79			306			3.9			45			1
2008	ECU		90			50			0.6			14			1
2009			48			81			1.7

 

* Information on this release gathered from East Carolina University Sources