Darius Pinnix, Jr.

Position:
Running Back
Height:
6-0
Weight:
224
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Burlington
High School:
Western Alamance
Major:
Communication

Projected to compete for a starting role for the fourth-straight year after an injury-shortened (redshirt) 2019 season … Ranks as the Pirates’ top returning career ground-gainer entering the 2020 campaign … Offers ample strength, toughness, agility, lateral movement and a low center of gravity that enhances third down production … Also rates as one of the program’s top pass-catchers out of the backfield … In all, has played in 26 career games (13 starts) and picked up 740 ground yards and nine touchdowns on 203 carries (3.6 ypr) … Has a total of 27 receptions for 255 yards (9.4 ypr).

2019: Opened the first two (NC State, Gardner-Webb) and the last two (Connecticut, Tulsa) contests of the season … Missed the remaining eight games due to injury, thus was able to preserve redshirt status … Despite missing nearly 70 percent of the season, still stood third in rushing yards (289) and carries (73), while ranking second in TD runs (4) … Averaged a team-best 72.2 ground yards per game and 4.0 yards per attempt … On the receiving end of six passes totaling 38 yards (6.3 ypr) out of the backfield … Tallied a pair of 100-yard rushing contests, picking up a career-best 134 (21 carries) against Gardner-Webb before racking up 105 (personal-high 27 attempts) at Connecticut in return after long layoff … Also scored a pair of TDs in each contest vs. Bulldogs (3, 13) and Huskies (1,3) … In addition to GWU and UConn, also was ECU’s top rusher in season opener at NC State (23 yards on 11 carries) … Netted a season-high three receptions for 38 yards vs. Gardner-Webb … Other catches were against Wolfpack (1 for -3) and Tulsa (2 for 3) … In all, made catches on all six “targeting” opportunities and was credited with one first down receiving … Posted three plays of 20-plus yards (two rushes, one reception) … Both season-longs were vs. Gardner-Webb (26-yard rush, 24-yard catch).

2018: Started three of 10 contests played as a sophomore … Did not experience action in final two games of the season (Cincinnati, NC State) because of injury … Was in the starting backfield against Old Dominion, Temple and Connecticut … Served as ECU’s lone back in home finale vs. Huskies and was part of a two-back set against Monarchs and Owls … Rushed for 222 yards and three touchdowns on 56 carries – an average of 4.0 ypr … Caught 12 passes for 168 yards … His 14.0 yards-per-reception average ranked first among all Pirates’ running backs … Reached paydirt once against North Carolina (season-long 48-yarder) and twice vs. Memphis (1 & 2-yard plunges) … Averaged 13.0 yards per carry with a season-high 65-yard (5-attempt) outing against the Tar Heels at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Also reached double-figure rushing totals vs. Connecticut (6-51), Old Dominion (6-37), USF (12-30) and Houston (11-15) … Picked up nine yards (3 carries) vs. Memphis, eight (5) vs. Tulane and seven (4) vs. Temple … Despite being held to zero yards on four ground attempts vs. league champion UCF, did manage a career bests in receptions (4) and reception yards (54) against the Knights … Contributed other multi-catch efforts vs. Monarchs (3-39) and Cougars (2-22) … Logged single grabs in tilts against Tar Heels (10 yards), Tigers (career-long 39-yarder) and Green Wave (4) … Did not record statistics only once (opener vs. North Carolina A&T) … Was only member of ECU’s regular running back corps to not be charged with a fumble (lost or otherwise) … Ran for 120 yards and two TDs on 45 carries (2.7 ypr) during seven American Athletic Conference contests … By comparison, averaged 9.3 yards per rush (11-102) in three non-league games … Amassed 177 yards on 35 attempts (5.1 ypr) in seven home games (21-45 on the road) … Eleven (11) of 12 receptions came at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Picked up 154 ground yards (38 carries) during the first half of campaign before managing only 68 yards on 18 attempts in the final four outings … Month-by month rushing splits include September (23-132), October (19-22) and November (14-68) … In addition to a trio of touchdowns, also accounted for 12 first downs on 56 overall carries … Converted five of six third-down rushes (into a first down).

2017: Enjoyed noteworthy collegiate debut during true rookie campaign … Played in all 12 games and opened six as ECU’s top ballcarrier – Temple, UCF, BYU, Tulane, Cincinnati and Memphis … Stood second on the team with 229 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 74 carries (3.1 ypr) … Also had nine receptions for 49 yards (5.4 ypr) and returned four kickoffs for 51 yards (12.8 ypr) … Scored TDs in the opener against James Madison (6-yard run) and vs. Tulane (2-yarder) … Had at least three carries in 11 outings and rushed for 10 or more yards on six occasions … Top effort of season was a career-high 93 yards (on a personal-best 13 carries) against eventual American Athletic Conference champion UCF in Orlando … Also produced his career-long run of 57 yards vs. the Knights, which additionally ranked as ECU’s longest ground jaunt all season … Other notable performances came against the Owls (7-30) and Bearcats (10-36) … Ball security improved dramatically during the course of campaign, not losing a single fumble in the last nine games (67 rushes) after putting ball on the ground once each early vs. JMU and Virginia Tech … Top pass catching day was at Houston with three grabs for 19 yards … Longest catch of the year was a 10-yarder vs. USF at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Also racked up a season-best 31 kickoff return yards (two attempts) against Cougars in TDECU Stadium … Picked up 13 first downs, 11 on the ground and two on pass receptions … Rushed for 207 yards on 62 attempts during eight-game AAC schedule (12-22 in four non-conference tilts) … Averaged 28.0 rushing yards per game (49-168) in the final six games during the second half of season, compared to a 10.2 (25-61) clip in the first six outings … Was the Pirates’ top ground gainer in three October battles, accumulating 136 yards on 25 rushes – an average of 5.4 yards per carry and 45.3 yards per contest … Logged one special teams tackle against Cincinnati (on a kickoff return) … A member of Scottie Montgomery’s second full signing class, inking with the Pirates in February.

High School: Rushed for 2,068 yards and 40 touchdowns, and caught 162 passes for 2,793 yards and 28 scores during prep career at Western Alamance … Averaged 6.7 yards per run (307 carries) collectively as a sophomore, junior and senior … A three-time All-Mid-State 3A All-Conference and Greensboro News & Record All-Region selection for coach Jeff Snuffer … Also earned all-area honors in 2015 and 2016, while adding all-state accolades following senior campaign … Helped Warriors to an 11-3 mark (7-1 conference) and a pair of playoff wins over Southern Durham (21-16) and Cleveland (51-26) after rushing for 426 yards and 14 TDs on 73 attempts in a pass-oriented offensive scheme as a senior … Caught a career-best 73 balls for 1,225 yards and 16 scores out of the backfield … Racked up a personal-best 871 ground yards and 12 touchdowns on 109 carries (8.0 ypr), while hauling down 70 receptions for 1,288 yards and eight TDs during junior season that resulted in a 9-3 record (7-1 in league play) and first-round playoff showing for WAHS … Also involved on special teams with a pair of kickoff returns for 98 yards, including a 65-yarder during a victory over Northeast Guilford in 2015 … Earned first starting role as a sophomore and responded with 771 yards and 14 scores on 125 attempts (6.2 ypr) … Additionally, netted 19 catches for 280 yards and four touchdowns out of the passing game for Warriors in 2014 … Completed four-of-six passes for 49 yards as a senior and four-of-five throws for 90 yards as a freshman while experiencing limited action after late season promotion to varsity squad … Defensively, was listed as an end and was credited with a combined 92 tackles (59 solo), 12.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks and a pair of interceptions … Booked 63 stops as a senior, 13 as a junior and 16 as a sophomore … Committed to ECU program on July 27, 2016 … Recruited by Appalachian State, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, East Tennessee State, Elon, Furman, Richmond, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and William & Mary … In all, earned 11 varsity letters – four in basketball (guard/forward), four in track (200, long jump) and three in football.

Personal: Full name is Darius Leon Pinnix, Jr. … Born at Elon, N.C. … Son of Darius Pinnix and Liz Hedden … Followed in footsteps of father, who was a star defensive lineman and backup running back for Western Alamance … Lists working out and playing basketball as favorite activities … A communication major who earned ECU Honor Roll accolades during the 2019 fall and 2020 spring semesters.