East Carolina starting QB Kurt Benkert out for season
East Carolina quarterback Kurt Benkert will miss the entire 2015 season due to a knee injury, the program announced Wednesday.
The news comes a week after Benkert, a redshirt sophomore, was announced as the Pirates’ starting quarterback.
According to a release from the program, Benkert “experienced discomfort after practice Tuesday.” After further testing, the severity of the injury was revealed Wednesday morning. The program did not provide specific details on the injury other than that it occurred in his right knee.
“Everyone in college football is affected by injuries and we are no different,” ECU head coach Ruffin McNeill said in a statement. “I am disappointed for Kurt because he has worked so hard for this opportunity. We’ve got a lot of talent on this team and we’ll be asking everyone to step up.”
Benkert saw action in three games for the Pirates last season as the backup to Shane Carden and completed 8-of-10 passes for 58 yards. He also rushed for two scores.
With Benkert out, McNeill said juniors Blake Kemp and Cody Keith will now compete for the starting role.
The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Kemp redshirted the 2014 after transferring to ECU from Mesa Community College. When Benkert was announced as the starter last week, McNeill said Kemp would serve as the No. 2 quarterback.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Keith returned to practice this week after missing two weeks of action due to a foot injury. He has been with the program since 2011, but has dealt with a variety of injuries, including an elbow injury that kept him out for the entire 2014 campaign. His only action came in 2013, when he appeared in three games as a backup and completed 7-of-11 passes for 57 yards.
The Pirates went 8-5 in 2014 and open up against Towson at home on Sept. 5.
For more East Carolina news, visit PirateIllustrated.com.
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