Keith Pearson
Wide Receiver / Presbyterian
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Keith Pearson: 5’9, 180, and I ran a 4.51 in high school. I have gotten faster since then.
Alex Khvatov: How did you prepare for the 2020 season with no offseason training?
Keith Pearson: I wake up at 5:30 am and meet up with one of my guys. We do conditioning or running at seven in the morning. We do a little bit of lifting on Wednesday. Three times a week, I go to Alliance training facility in Greenville, South Carolina. They should open up the facilities at the school in mid-July. We should start training in August.
Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?
Keith Pearson: I ran track and played basketball. I ran 100m and 200m. I also did the long jump and triple jump. Long jump was my best event.
Alex Khvatov: What positions did you play in high school?
Keith Pearson: The main position was receiver. I also played corner and backup QB. Sometimes, they put me at RB.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Keith Pearson: Not too many schools. I had Georgia Southern my junior year. I wanted to be close to home. I also had North Alabama and Charleston Southern.
Alex Khvatov: How did you wind up at Presbyterian?
Keith Pearson: It was close to home. My family could make it to home games at Presbyterian. It was small and felt like home.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your overall career?
Keith Pearson: We have been improving as a team. Our chemistry has improved, and we have been growing. The goal is to leave a mark here. We have the younger guys who want to stick with the program. My class was the last one to receive football scholarships. We have a great team. During my freshman year, I was more of a special teams’ guy. Sophomore year, I got a chance to play at receiver. I showed that I had potential. Junior year, I had a good season.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from your team this upcoming season?
Keith Pearson: Not too many guys left this past year. We can’t compete for a playoff spot because we are an independent school. We want to win more games than last year.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Keith Pearson: My ability to get open against man coverage or zone. I am quick out of my routes and sure-handed. They can give me the ball in multiple ways. I can take handoffs and can throw it a little bit. I have thrown two TD’s during my career.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Keith Pearson: I struggle with blocking. I play the slot. I need to hold off the LB. I need to improve my technique.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Keith Pearson: During my sophomore year, we played Hampton. It was a close game. It was the fourth quarter and third & long. It was close to the red zone. We were down by eight points. I caught a corner route and came down with it on the sideline. Then the next play, I caught a TD, but it was called incomplete. We scored on the next play. We didn’t win. I think we missed a FG.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff?
Keith Pearson: Doing the little things outside of football. You have to do the work in the classroom.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Keith Pearson: Carolina Panthers.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Keith Pearson: Taylor Gabriel is an undersized guy. He is an underdog.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?
Keith Pearson: LB Colby Campbell is a tackling machine. Younger WR Mack Simmons will be a sophomore. QB Tyler Huff will be a sophomore. Safeties Rod Haygood and Trent Carrington.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Keith Pearson: #1 Cornerback from Monmouth. He was the toughest. He was a tall guy.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a WR?
Keith Pearson: Being able to get open and be a playmaker.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Keith Pearson: For me, football got me into college. It has done everything for my whole life. It is something that I love. I struggled with grades in high school. Now my GPA is above 3.0.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Keith Pearson: I spend time with my fiancée and I go to my grandmother’s pool in the summer. Our wedding is next year on June 5th. I like to go to the park and shoot basketball.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Keith Pearson: Coaching. Hopefully, I will get a counseling job. I want to get the job at my high school in my hometown. I am working on the sociology degree. I want to get into the master’s program.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Keith Pearson: Determined, humble, committed, kind, and funny.
