| 2008 overall record: 9-5 2008 conference record: 6-2, 1st East Division
Returning starters: Offense: 8, defense: 8, punter/kicker 2
Top returners: QB Patrick Pinkney, DE C.J. Wilson, FS Van Eskridge, WR Dwayne Harris, LB Nick Johnson, LG Terence Campbell, C Sean Allen, RG Cory Dowless, RT D.J. Scott, CB Travis Simmons, OLB Jeremy Chambliss, K Ben Hartman
Key losses: TE Davon Drew, RB Brandon Simmons, DE Zack Slate, LB Pierre Bell, CB Leon Best
2008 statistical leaders (*returners)
Rushing: Norman Whitley* (698 yards)
Passing: Patrick Pinkney* (2,675 yards)
Receiving: Davon Drew (695 yards)
Tackles: Nick Johnson* (102)
Sacks: C.J. Wilson*(10.5)
Interceptions: Van Eskridge*, Emanuel Davis* (4) Spring answers 1. Deep, confident team: The Pirates return almost all of their skill players for last year's Conference USA championship team and it will be the favorite to repeat in 2009. Patrick Pinkney said the team already has more swagger this spring than it has had in any other year the sixth-year quarterback has been around. 2. Deep running game: The running game struggled to find a consistent go-to back last season, but with the return of Dominique Lindsay, who suffered a knee injury last fall camp, and the emergence of sophomore Kentucky transfer Brandon Jackson, the Pirates might be able to balance its offense. 3. Pinkney brings poise: The return of Pinkney for his sixth season is a huge boost for the Pirates not only from a leadership perspective, but also from a confidence perspective. Pinkney led this team to big wins last year and the team is going to rely on him to do the same in 2009. | 2009 Schedule | Sept. 5 Appalachian State
Sept. 12 at West Virginia
Sept. 19 at North Carolina
Sept. 26 UCF
Oct. 3 at Marshall
Oct. 10 at SMU
Oct. 17 Rice
Oct. 27 at Memphis (Tue.)
Nov. 5 Virginia Tech (Thur.)
Nov. 15 at Tulsa (Sun.)
Nov. 21 UAB
Nov. 28 Southern Miss | | | Fall questions 1. Bryant, help or hindrance?: The return of Jamar Bryant should be a good thing for the Pirates because they need a second steady receiver to replace tight end Davon Drew. However, Bryant has been in some trouble - he was suspended all last season - so the question will be whether he can stay out of trouble and help the team in a positive way. 2. Spring practice suspensions: Jonathan Williams, who was ECU's leading rusher before he was suspended in October, and Norman Whitley, who ultimately led the team in rushing before being suspended for spring ball, are question marks for the fall. Coach Skip Holtz hasn't said anything about their return, but their presence would be a great addition to the running back depth. 3. Extra pressure on Wilson: With Zack Slate lost to graduation, teams will be able to key in more on C.J. Wilson at defensive end forcing Scott Robinson to pull his weight on the other side of the line. Robinson was mostly a reserve player last season, but he did manage a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss in his limited play. | 
Watson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Missouri Tigers and the Big 12 Conference for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She also covered college football recruiting for the Dallas Morning News.
