An affable and polished veteran quarterback who will embark on his final collegiate season competing to regain his status at the top of the depth chart … Wrapped up `09 spring drills as the officially-designated backup to Patrick Pinkney but experience and competitive nature could change the Pirates' offensive landscape as the season progresses … Prior to serving as a defined reserve during his junior campaign, he teamed with Pinkney to give East Carolina one of the strongest rotating quarterbacking systems in the nation two years ago … Gives ECU a physical quarterback prototype in regards to size, quickness and arm strength … Professional demeanor, team-first attitude, agility and work ethic, which resulted in the loss of approximately 20 pounds during the off-season, also won't rule out the possibility of a position change in order to force action on the field … Has experienced both the positives and negatives of playing on a grand stage – overcoming the adversity of a team rule violation prior to the nationally-televised opener at Virginia Tech but displaying the resolve and maturity to face teammates and work his way back up the depth chart to guide ECU to pivotal C-USA victories over UTEP and UCF before engineering a game-winning drive against Boise State in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl … Completed 10-of-17 passes for 84 yards in first spring scrimmage (4/4) before hitting 13-of-18 passes for 97 yards in second simulated contest (4/8) … Did not play in the Purple-Gold Game (bereavement leave) … Cited by position coach Todd Fitch as the unit's recipient of the "distinction of attitude, effort and leadership" award … Completed requirements for a bachelor's degree in communications last fall and participated in graduation ceremonies in December.
2008: Completed 25-of-54 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns as a top backup during junior season … Played in eight games, coming off the bench on seven occasions and making one start (at UCF) … Tossed both scoring passes against Memphis (42-yarder to Brandon Simmons, 28-yarder to Dwayne Harris) during Pirates' 30-10 victory that halted a three-game slide – the third multi-TD outing of career … Also turned in top effort of year against Tigers, completing nine-of-17 passes for a season-high 167 yards – his only triple-digit aerial performance of the season … Was seven-of-19 for 65 yards a week later in start vs. Knights in Orlando … Suffered two interceptions (2) vs. Houston and UCF … Contributed nine rushes for -2 yards … Booked a career-best 20-yard ground gain (one carry) vs. UTEP in regular season finale … Had a season-high four carries at UCF … Completed only pass attempt vs. West Virginia (seven yards) … Opened the second half under center vs. Houston, completing five-of-eight passes for 49 yards – 41 coming on a strike to Harris in the third quarter … Engineered march that resulted in a game-winning touchdown with 2:20 remaining vs. UAB that clinched the Pirates' first C-USA East Division title … Connected with Norman Whitley on a pivotal 17-yard pass near midfield to sustain drive against Blazers.
2007: Started seven of 10 games played at quarterback … Earned starting nod heading into the 2007 season but was suspended for the opener (team rule violation) … Recorded first career start under center against UCF (10/6) and followed by opening contests against UTEP, N.C. State, UAB, Memphis, Marshall and Tulane… Overall, completed 96-of-175 passes for 1,164 yards, nine TDs and just four interceptions … Completed 28-of-50 passes for 254 yards (all career-highs) vs. N.C. State … Threw for at least 200 yards in three games (UCF/201, UTEP/219 and N.C. State/254) – all coming in successive fashion in early-to-mid October … Had at least one TD pass in five contests (Houston, UCF, UTEP, N.C. State and Tulane) … Tossed three TDs in a game twice – vs. Knights and Green Wave … Experienced first action of the season in the fourth quarter at West Virginia (2-of-3 passing for 11 yards) … Helped spark the Pirates past Houston a week later, playing the entire second half and completing 6-of-12 passes for 110 yards and one TD … Scoring strike (34-yarder to T. J. Lee in the third quarter) was the first of his career … Was 12-of-23 for 201 yards and three TDs in first start vs. UCF … Completed a career-long pass of 72 yards to Chris Johnson for a score against the Knights … Scored game-winning touchdown in overtime on a one-yard run at UTEP after completing 18-of-32 passes for a then career-high 219 yards with one TD … Game-long strike of 34 yards to Juwon Crowell at the close of regulation sent the game into overtime at the Sun Bowl … Followed with a career-best performance vs. N.C. State, which included finding Jamar Bryant on an 18-yard TD toss in the second quarter … Other regular season effort of note came against Tulane … 12-of-18 passes found receivers for 177 yards and three scores (six, 25 and 33 yards) vs. Green Wave … Came off the bench against Boise State in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl to engineer Pirates' game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter, finding Jamar Bryant on a critical third-and-eight play to set up Ben Hartman's deciding field goal.
2006: Quickly established himself as the top back-up behind record-setting quarterback James Pinkney … However, was able to experience significant playing time in five games (West Virginia, SMU, UCF, Marshall and South Florida), completing 14-of-30 passes for 184 yards with one interception (West Virginia) … Rushed the ball seven times for -23 yards … Closed year in fine statistical fashion, topping all ECU and USF quarterbacks with 138 air yards (10-of-19) vs. the Bulls in the Papajohns.com Bowl … Hit first throw of the game for 26 yards to Brandon Fractious before adding a then career-long pass of 29 yards to Bobby Good in the fourth quarter … Made collegiate debut in the fourth quarter against the No. 4 Mountaineers at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Completed two-of-seven passes for 29 yards with one interception vs. Mountaineers … Connected on a 25-yard pass play with Jamar Bryant and also completed a four-yard toss … Ran the ball twice for ten yards, including a seven-yard scamper down the right sideline … Completed lone pass of the game vs. SMU in the first quarter to Aundrae Allison for 11 yards … Completed other regular season pass vs. Marshall (six yards).
2005: Redshirted … Provided program with an exemplary effort as the top scout team signal-caller, earning the annual Rick Bankston Memorial Award (symbolic of scout team player-of-the-year honors) … Officially signed with Skip Holtz' program in February, 2005.
High School: A three-year starter and four-year letterwinner as a quarterback for two different programs in the Orlando (Fla.) area … Opened career at Lake Mary High School before transferring to Lake Highland Preparatory High School prior to his senior season … Led Lake Mary to the Class AAAAA Florida State Playoff semifinals as a junior before guiding Lake Highland to the Class AAAAAA semis as a senior in 2004 … Earned FHSAA Player-of-the-Year honors in the 2A-2B classification after his senior year … Completed 55-of-100 (55.0 percent) passes for 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns for Lake Highland in 2004 while also adding 300 rushing yards … Compiled 1,340 passing yards and nine TDs as a junior at Lake Mary … Served as captain of the East Team in the Florida East-West All-Star Classic played in December, 2004 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa … Selected as the MVP of the East squad, completing 17-of-21 passes for 251 yard and four touchdowns … Turned in a 55.4 completion percentage during his prep career … In all, completed 191-of-345 passes for 4,639 yards and 39 TDs … Averaged over eight yards per rushing attempt, picking up 569 ground yards and seven scores … Committed just 13 turnovers during his four-year career which spanned over 1,300 offensive plays … A three-sport athlete, earning additional letters in basketball and weightlifting during his senior year … A Dean's List and Honor Roll performer in the classroom each semester of high school, maintaining a cumulative 3.10 grade point average all four years … Was exceptionally active in the Central Florida community, earning credit for over 400 hours of volunteer service … Finished prep career at the same high school program as former East Carolina wide receiver Bobby Good.
Personal: Full name is Robert Joseph Kass … Born March 25, 1987… Major is communications … Has quarterback bloodlines as his grandfather served as a signal-caller at Hofstra while father Dave played same position for John Mackovic at Wake Forest before transferring to New Hampshire … In addition, brother Brian signed a national letter-of-intent in February, 2009 to attend and play football (quarterback) at Southern Conference contender Wofford … A strong classroom performer as well, earning selection to the ECU Athletic Director's Honor Roll as an undergraduate (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years) … Currently pursuing a master's degree in exercise and sports science with a concentration in sport management.