Dameon Pierce RB Scouting Report

[Jets Global]

Dameon Pierce NFL Draft Profile Position: Runningback School: Florida Current Year: Senior Height: 5'10" Weight: 215 pounds
Dameon Pierce Scouting Report Dameon has a stout, compact frame that can absorb direct power. With that frame, he withstands contact. He pries through arm tackles with leg churn and has great contact balance as well. The Florida RB can bounce off of surging defenders with his strong center of gravity. He also has some intriguing athletic traits. He has above-average lateral agility. Dameon is surprisingly elusive, with looseness in his hips. He can feign direction changes and manipulate spacing with his footwork. Pierce also uses his loose hips to slip through gaps and navigate congestion. He shows good lean and balance as a runner; he’s not an upright, north-south ball carrier. His short-area burst is far from elite, the Florida RB possesses solid long-track explosiveness when he has a runway. He has enough juice to bounce runs to the outside and extend plays in space. While he doesn’t quite have breakaway speed, his long speed is certainly good enough for the position. Pierce has a squatty, energetic style as a runner. His fast feet allow him to be somewhat adaptable. He has good overall creative capacity. He flashes solid vision and can stick cuts well for his frame. He possesses smooth footwork in the backfield, and he’s composed and rhythmic when approaching holes. Pierce has shown to improvise in spurts. He extends runs with his footwork and instincts, and he’s a physical finisher as well. He consistently lowers his shoulder and finishes forward. He also brings coveted value on passing downs. He’s an excellent receiver for the position, with a much larger route tree than expected for an RB. He tracks the ball and plays in contact, also showing some nuance as a route runner. Pierce can chop his route stems with quick, sudden feet. He also displays the ability to sink his hips into his stems and employs head fakes as a means of deception. Dameon is a strong pass blocker. The Florida RB gets after it protecting his quarterback. He has a strong base, consistently squares up, and exerts his power on opponents. He times his strikes well as a blocker and has good balance when lowering his pads. Additionally, he’s more than willing to serve as a lead blocker on designed runs.
Areas for Improvement Pierce appears to be a very solid all-around back on the surface — but there are still some limitations and areas of inconsistency to address. Most notably, Pierce doesn’t have elite explosiveness. His short-area burst is visibly lacking at times, and he can get run down from behind in the backfield. He needs a runway to gain speed and isn’t naturally spry or twitchy, either. His energetic play pace comes more from effort than athleticism. Pierce isn’t always as light on his feet or as quick to change directions as you’d like. He’s not a plodding mover, but he sometimes becomes flat-footed when executing cuts. Additionally, Pierce is susceptible to occasional focus drops out of the backfield. And as a lead blocker, he can do a better job sustaining blocks at times.
Dameon Pierce Career at Florida Eager to follow in the footsteps of players like NFL Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, Pierce jumped at the opportunity to earn an early role in Florida’s offense. Behind a talented offensive line, Pierce had solid production as a true freshman. He logged 69 carries for 424 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Pierce’s strong freshman season generated excitement for his future as a potential workhorse back. Unfortunately, that future never materialized in Florida. Instead, Pierce has been a rotational back for much of his career — part of Florida’s perpetually deep running back room. He was a marginal producer once again in 2019 and 2020, and his yardage has been similar in 2021. Nevertheless, 2021 has been Pierce’s most productive year for other reasons. The Florida RB may only have 75 carries for 455 yards, but he has 11 rushing touchdowns, along with 18 catches for 217 yards and 3 scores. In a room that includes Malik Davis, Nay’quan Wright, Demarkcus Bowman, and Lorenzo Lingard, Pierce has carved out a role as a short-yardage back and receiving specialist — a testament to his versatility.
Dameon Pierce NFL Draft Player Profile Pierce won’t be the first running back off the board, but there’s always a market for his style of back in the NFL. Pierce isn’t overly explosive, but he does have a respectable athletic foundation. He runs with solid pace, balance, and executes cuts and direction changes well enough. Pierce also has the dense frame and the physicality to work through contact. Pierce’s profile passes with flying colors in the passing phase. He’s an advanced receiver at the RB position, and he holds strong in pass protection. That three-down utility ensures he’ll have some security at the next level, and his skill set as a runner — combined with his above-average creation capacity — suggests that he can take greater volume than he’s taken in college. Pierce may not have elite athletic upside, but he’s one of the more well-rounded backs in the 2022 NFL Draft. He can provide value on every down, both as a runner and a receiver. And that’s something that not all backs can boast. He profiles as an early-to-mid Day 3 pick right now, but a strong Senior Bowl showing could earn him greater prestige.