NFL Draft Profile: Dameon Pierce, Running Back, Florida Gators
#27
Pos: RB
Ht: 5100
Wt: 218
Hand: 0938
Arm: 3034
40: 4.59
Bench: 21
Vertical: 34.5
Broad Jump: 911
Wing: 7400
DOB: 2/19/00
Eligible: 2022
Richmond, VA
Benedictine
Dameon Pierce
Florida Gators
One-Liners
Soft-handed back who can pass protect. Does the little things well but lacks physicality and dynamism to be more than a depth piece.
Pros
Creative back who lines up all over the formation. Pierce is short with above average weight. Quick step frequency gives him above average burst in the open field and when trying to get to the corner. He sinks his hips to change directions and perform cuts with a low center of gravity. Pierce runs hard, keeping his legs churning and breaking arm tackles. He finds a way to pick up extra yards and will find and exploit cutback lanes. Good patience allows him to let blocks develop. As a receiver, Pierce is capable of creating separation against linebackers underneath and possesses reliable hands and the ability to adjust to off-target passes. He blocks with high effort and low pads, executing chip blocks and maximizing his strength.
Cons
Displaying below average speed, Pierce lacks the next gear to break away in the open field. He is not explosive, unable to stop and start quickly. His twitch and springiness are below average. Pierce possesses below-average strength, preventing him from running through defenders and getting stood up or absorbed at the point of attack as a blocker. He can do too much as a runner and get into bad situations, cutting into lanes that are not developing.
Summary
Running back with good size and below average speed and strength. Pierce is a creative runner and capable blocker and receiver. He lacks the physicality to consistently break tackles and be a punishing inside runner. Pierce projects as a depth piece and potential backup due to his well-rounded skill set and effort. His below-average athletic ability puts a ceiling on his special teams impact and potential.
Background:
Dameon Pierce attended Bainbridge high school in Georgia where he was a four-year starter that totaled 6,779 yards on the ground while scoring 92 touchdowns. After high school, 247Sports ranked him as a 4-Star recruit, the 201st-best recruit nationally, the 8th-ranked running back recruit in the country and the 25th recruit in the state of Georgia.
Pierce committed to Florida and in his true freshman year in 2018 he appeared in all 13 games as a reserve and key special teams contributor. He finished with 69 carries for 424 yards and two touchdowns. In 2019, he appeared in 12 games as a reserve and finished with 54 carries for 305 yards and four touchdowns. In 2020, he played in 12 games, started 10 and finished with 106 carries for 503 yards and four touchdowns. In 2021, he appeared in all 13 games and finished with 100 carries for 574 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Pierce made Bruce Feldman's "Freak" List in 2021 and reportedly runs a 4.5 40-yard-dash, squats 705 pounds, jumps 37 inches and has just six-percent body fat.
Grades
Current Player Value/Potential Player Value
6.5/8.3
2/6/22 - One of the toughest positions to evaluate at the senior bowl is running back. Lack of continuity and consistent shuffling can make it hard for a runner to find his rhythm. Well, Pierce defied those notions this week as he consistently put on a show in practice. One might think otherwise due to his lackluster stats during the game, but Pierce showed everything you want out of NFL running back. He was powerful in between the tackles, caught the ball well all week (including a one-handed snag during the game), and repeatedly demonstrated the ability to protect the quarterback. When speaking with an assistant scout for the Senior Bowl, he said: I really like Pierce. To me, he is this draft's Cam Akers. I see very few flaws in his game and expect him to have a solid NFL career." Pierce certainly helped sure up his draft stock this week and will look to continue that as we head towards April.
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