WR, Cincinnati
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 211 lbs
Class: Senior
As a three-star recruit in the 2018 class, Pierce didn’t attract a tonne of attention by virtue of his modest high school production (just 35 career catches). He eventually committed to Cincinnati over offers from the likes of Army, Navy, and Central Michigan.
After playing principally on special teams as a freshman, Pierce earned a starting role with the Bearcats as a sophomore. He hit the ground running, leading the team with 652 yards on his 37 receptions. His 2020 season was derailed by injury, but he bounced back in 2021 to become Desmond Ridder’s main weapon in the passing game. Pierce finished the season as a Second Team All-AAC member.
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Strengths
One of Pierce’s biggest selling points is his combination of size and speed. At 6’3″ and 211 lbs he is one of the bigger receivers in the class and has the size to operate as a prototypical X receiver in the NFL. He pairs this with legitimate quickness and earned a reputation as a deep threat during his career at Cincinnati. He ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the Combine, with a 1.46 10-yard split that ranks in the 99th percentile at the position. Pierce also ranked in the 94th and 97th percentile in his broad and vertical jumps respectively.
This all shows up on film too. Pierce is quick off the line of scrimmage and will force defenders to flip their hips early in the rep. He is quick to eat up the cushion against off coverage and will stack defenders early against press. He then showcases the long speed to separate on the vertical tree. This helped to make him one of the best deep threats in college football over recent seasons. He averaged an impressive 17.5 yards per reception across his 105 career catches.
In addition to his athletic profile, Pierce also offers an advanced release package. He consistently demonstrated the ability to win off the line against press coverage, a trait that will be hugely valuable at the next level. He is smart with his footwork, utilising jab steps to manipulate defenders and then target their blind spots. His upper body strength is on full display here too, with good hands to clear his chest when cornerbacks try to jam him at the line.
Pierce is also outstanding at the catch point. He has the active hands you want at the position and is comfortable working outside his frame. His ability to high point the football is excellent too and he is a reliable option in contested catch scenarios. Pierce is also adept at tracking the football over his shoulder, showing the ability to adjust to poor ball placement.
Weaknesses
Whilst Pierce possesses great explosiveness and long speed, he isn’t the most agile receiver. His footwork can be a little choppy on routes with quick cuts and he shouldn’t be relied upon to be overly dynamic in short areas. This, in addition to his lean and leggy build, was part of the reason he struggled to create after the catch. Pierce isn’t going to force many missed tackles in the open field in the NFL.
He is also still developing as a route runner. Pierce ran a fairly basic route tree during his time at Cincinnati, with a tonne of his production coming on go routes. He was often able to win with pure athleticism in college, but will need to develop more nuance if he’s to reach his potential in the NFL. You rarely saw him manipulating defenders to create separation downfield with subtle movements.
Bottom Line
Pierce is a really intriguing wide receiver prospect. He ticks the boxes when it comes to size and speed and has a good record of production in college. His reliable hands and ability to win against press give him a high floor in the NFL, and if he can develop as a route runner there is the potential for him to be a WR1 at the next level.
Ideal role: X receiver in a vertical passing offense
Round projection: 2nd round
