Rio Johnson Named Starting Quarterback For ECU Opener
August 27, 2012 | Football
Aug. 27, 2012
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina junior Rio Johnson has been tabbed as the Pirates' starting quarterback according to an announcement made by head coach Ruffin McNeill during his weekly press conference Monday afternoon.
"All four of the players were within percentage points of each other," McNeill said. "The last few days saw Rio Johnson step forward based on the way he managed the team, but not by much. It just came to the point where we had to get one guy ready to play this weekend."
A native of Atlanta, Ga., Johnson played in four games as a sophomore behind record-setting performer Dominique Davis in 2011, completing 20-of-29 passes for 157 yards and suffering one interception.
McNeill indicated that sophomore Shane Carden, who Johnson edged out during the final days of the competitive position battle, will serve as the top backup heading into the opener.
East Carolina will return to the Cliff Moore Practice Complex Tuesday at 4 p.m. to continue its preparation efforts for Saturday's contest against Appalachian State.
