James Pierre
| No. 42 – Pittsburgh Steelers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Cornerback | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | September 16, 1996 | ||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Deerfield Beach | ||
| College: | Florida Atlantic | ||
| Undrafted: | 2020 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||
| Career NFL statistics | |||
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James Pierre (born September 16, 1996) is a professional American football cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida Atlantic.
Early life and high school
Pierre attended Deerfield Beach High School. As a senior, he registered 48 tackles, four interceptions and two pass break-ups, helping Deerfield Beach to a 10-2 record. The Miami Herald named him one of the Top 25 seniors in Broward County, while the Sun-Sentinel named him all-county honorable mention. Pierre was considered a three-star prospect and the No. 48 safety in the Class of 2016 by 247Sports.com's composite rankings. He initially committed to Miami (FL) over offers from Louisville, Mississippi State, Tennessee, South Carolina and Wisconsin, but switched his commitment to North Carolina in February 2016. Pierre was denied admission and committed to Syracuse.[1]
College career
Pierre was ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA.[2] He transferred to Florida Atlantic and had 21 tackles and two pass deflections as a freshman in 2017.[3] Pierre posted 55 tackles and nine pass breakups as a sophomore.[4] On November 2, 2019, he made two interceptions in a 35-24 win over Western Kentucky.[5] As a junior in 2019, Pierre recorded 44 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses and three interceptions. He finished his collegiate career with 120 total tackles, 18 pass breakups, 8 1/2 tackles for losses and three interceptions in 39 games. Following the season, Pierre declared for the NFL draft, becoming the fourth Florida Atlantic player to voluntarily leave school early to declare for the draft.[6]
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, Pierre signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[7] He was named to the Steelers' initial 53-man roster, the only undrafted free agent to make the team in that fashion in 2020.[8]
References
- ^ Bailey, Stephen (May 20, 2016). "Syracuse football announces signing of James Pierre; 3-star DB details decision". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ Bailey, Stephen (August 29, 2016). "Syracuse football DB signee James Pierre does not qualify with NCAA". The Post-Standard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ Elman, Jake (April 16, 2016). "Florida Atlantic cornerback James Pierre looks to finish spring camp with flourish". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ Elman, Jake (July 29, 2019). "FAU football: James Pierre, Owls secondary need to continue strong spring performance into regular season". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ "James Pierre makes 2 picks as Florida Atlantic tops Western Kentucky football". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. November 2, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ Price, Khobi (January 2, 2020). "FAU cornerback James Pierre declares for NFL draft". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ Price, Khobi (April 26, 2020). "FAU's James Pierre, Rashad Smith, Brandon Walton agree to NFL deals as undrafted free agents". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- ^ Adamski, Chris (September 7, 2020). "Tall, athletic CB James Pierre pleased to make Steelers as undrafted free agent". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved September 9, 2020.