After losing potential starting quarterback Kurt Benkert to the Virginia Cavaliers, the East Carolina Pirates added another late signee to the 2016 recruiting class.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew of Northwest Mississippi Community College has officially signed with the Pirates after spending the 2015 season at the JUCO level. He was offered a scholarship by East Carolina, but did not sign until Benkert left the program.
Benkert never seemed to fully gel with the East Carolina coaching staff after the sudden firing of head coach Ruffin McNeill. While disappointing for the program, it is no surprise that Benkert left the Pirates to play his final two seasons at Virginia with McNeill.