East Carolina's Kurt Benkert to transfer

Kurt Benkert won't finish his collegiate career at East Carolina.

The quarterback will be transferring from the Pirates after missing the entire 2015 campaign with a knee injury.

"I am saddened to announce that I am transferring from East Carolina University," Benkert said. "I am very blessed for the opportunity that ECU has given me in obtaining my degree, and am forever thankful for the support from such great coaches, teammates, faculty, and fans. This was a very tough decision that came from a lot of sleepless nights and conversations from those close to me."

It's been an offseason of transition for the Pirates, as the firing of head coach Ruffin McNeill was an unpopular decision to those around campus. The new man in charge, Scottie Montgomery, said Monday he is focused on the players he has.

"While it was initially disappointing to hear, our immediate focus needs to remain on Pirates who want to be Pirates," Montgomery said. "We had a very competitive spring at many positions and the objective is for that energy, work ethic and ambition to continue throughout the summer and into preseason camp. I am impressed by the leadership we currently have in place on this team and my confidence in those young men grows on a daily basis."

Benkert played sparingly when he was healthy in 2014, completing just eight passes. He plans to graduate in May and would have two years of eligibility remaining.