Quarterback generally is considered the most important position on the field. Good teams don’t have bad quarterbacks.

A lot of factors combine to make a quarterback good in addition to his own ability. A good offensive line is essential to protect the quarterback and give him time to throw.

The offensive line enables the run game, which can keep defenses from keying on the pass. Good running backs help quarterbacks, and good receivers definitely are a part of the offensive package.

Quarterbacks make the big bucks in the NFL and collegiately.

East Carolina will face a variety of quarterbacks in 2026.

The collective set features returning starters, transfers and players from within programs who are transitioning into starting assignments from back-up roles.

Here’s a look at who the Pirate defense will be preparing for during the regular season.

Incredibly, ECU won’t face a returning full-time starter until the 11th game of the season.

at Alabama
Sat., Sept, 5, noon (ABC)

Austin Mack, Keelon Russell

Mack, a 6-feet-6 senior, backed up Ty Simpson during an 11-4 season in 2025. Mack saw action in his home state in the Rose Bowl, completing 11 of 16 for 103 yards in a 38-3 loss to eventual national champion Indiana.

Mack initially signed with Washington but did not play there in 2023. He played in one game for the Crimson Tide in 2024.

He got in four games in 2025, none against Southeastern Conference opponents. Mack completed 24 of 32 passes for 228 yards with two touchdowns. He had nine keepers for 22 yards and a TD.

Mack competed with sophomore Keelon Russell in the spring. Russell connected on 20 of 32 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns in the spring tilt as Mack was limited by an injury, which means the competition may continue in preseason camp.

The Tide also signed Jett Thomalla, a 5-star from Omaha.

Alabama was limited to 3.4 yards per rush last season and has rebuilt the offensive front through the portal.

Appalachian State
Sat., Sept. 12, noon (ESPNU)

Malachi Singleton, Henry Hasselbeck

Over 40 players entered the portal from a 5-8 team, but the transfer route is a 2-way street.

Singleton played previously at Arkansas and Purdue, making appearances in 16 games and throwing 92 passes. He has a run dimension.

Hasselbeck arrived from UCLA.

Tommy Ulatowski from Kennesaw State and Noah Gillon, a redshirt freshman who stayed at App, round out the QB room in Boone.

The skill positions are well-stocked with transfers.

Guards Cayden Sweatt and Trent Ramsey are the only returning starters on offense.

at Old Dominion
Sat., Sept, 19, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)

Quinn Henicle, Jaxon Potter

Henicle ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-10 Cure Bowl win over South Florida. He passed for 127 as he moved into a starting role.

Colton Joseph, the Offensive Player of the Year in the Sun Belt Conference, wound up at Wisconsin from the Monarchs’ best ever 10-3 team.

There is depth with Potter, who had starting experience at Washington State, who looks like Henicle’s back-up.

N.C. Central
Sat., Sept. 26, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)

Nelson Layne

Layne transferred from rival N.C. A&T and is competing for the job with Cobey Thompkins from The Citadel as well as a group of players who were reserves within the program.

There are big shoes to fill. Walker Harris was the 2025 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year with 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Coach Trei Oliver wants a dual threat at the controls and Layne looked capable in that regard during the spring game.

Oliver said the competition is open. Quarterbacks on the Eagles roster include Jaquez Crawford, Joshua Jones, Carter Merck and Chanston Crosby.

Rice
Sat., Oct. 10, TBA

Jacurri Brown, Gael Ochoa

The Owls’ quarterback room has done its version of musical chairs.

Chase Jenkins, the starter last season, went to Kansas.

Run-oriented coach Scott Abell brought in Brown, who has made stops at Miami of Florida and Central Florida.

Ochoa came from Nevada-Las Vegas.

Rice managed just 19.1 points per game during a 5-8 season in 2025.

at Alabama-Birmingham
Thurs, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

Ryder Burton

Burton made two starts for the Blazers last season.

He passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-24 win at then-No. 22 Memphis.

Burton threw for 213 yards and two TDs in a 24-17 loss at Rice.

UAB restocked at running back through the portal but the receiving corps appears thin.

Former offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen will be in his first full season as head coach.

Burton is from Utah and went to Brigham Young initially before transferring to West Virginia.

at Memphis
Thursday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Marcus Stokes

The Tigers have a new coach, a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback.

Charles Huff, who coached against the Pirates at Marshall before going to Southern Miss, has taken the reins for the Tigers.

New coordinator Kevin Decker has installed an up tempo spread with Stokes at the controls.

Stokes was a standout at Division II West Florida.

He will be backed up by Air Noland, who played sparingly at South Carolina.

Temple
Saturday, Oct. 31, TBA

Jaxon Smolik, Ajani Sheppard

Smolik transferred from Penn State and Sheppard came from Washington State.

Smolik appeared to be leading coming out of spring practice although both candidates are short on game experience.

The Owls will tune up against Rhode Island at home before Smolik faces his former program, the Nittany Lions, in Philadelphia.

There is past production among the receivers and Smolik reputedly can throw with accuracy.

South Florida
Friday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Michael Van Buren Jr., Luke Kromenhoek

Van Buren got some time at LSU last year and Kromenhoek was at Mississippi State.

Coach Alex Golesh helped the Bulls go 9-4 last year before going to Auburn and taking starting quarterback Byrum Brown (4,166 total yards, 42 TDs) with him.

New Bulls coach Brian Hartline was offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

K.J. Cooper, from Texas Southern, is also in the quarterback picture.

at Charlotte
Sat., Nov. 14, TBA

Cole Gonzalez, Conner Harrell

Gonzalez was previously at Pitt and Western Carolina.

Harrell made some starts at North Carolina but has been hindered by injuries since joining the 49ers.

Charlotte managed just 14.3 points per game last year in the first season for Coach Tim Albin and offensive coordinator Todd Fitch.

Transfers dot the offensive front.

Gonzalez got the bulk of the reps in spring with Harrell sidelined.

at Army
Sat., Nov. 21, noon (CBS Sports Network)

Cale Hellums

The 11th game of the season and ECU will see a returning full-time starter at quarterback for the first time if injury, demotion or an unforeseen factor doesn’t sidetrack Hellums.

Quarterbacks are an integral part of the Cadets’ run-oriented offense. Hellums had nine carries for 42 yards in a 28-6 loss at ECU in 2025. He was one for three passing for 13 yards.

Second stringer Bryson Luter did not see action last season as a freshman.

Florida Atlantic
Friday, Nov. 28/Saturday, Nov. 29, TBA

Caden Veltkamp

Veltkamp came in from Western Kentucky last year.

He is a returning starter for the Owls, who were 4-8 in 2025.

He completed 19 of 31 for 183 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in a 42-3 loss to ECU in Boca Raton in the Pirates’ last game of the regular season. He was sacked four times.

Veltkamp had 28.75 completions per game, which led the nation. He was third in passing yards (303.4) per game. He had 24 TDs and 17 interceptions.

Veltcamp and the offense will need to put up points to compensate for a defense that allowed 36.3 points per game in 2025, which ranked 128th nationally.