Jarrin Pierce

Wide Receiver / Middle Tennessee State

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Jarrin Pierce:  My height is 5’11, weight is 190 and low 4.5.    

Alex Khvatov:  How did you prepare for the 2020 season with no offseason training?

Jarrin Pierce:  I had a routine.  I stayed here at Tennessee.  I would go running and get my heart rate up.  I watched a lot of film.  I worked on the mental aspect of the game.  I watched games from last year and I saw where I could do better this year.  I would eat right, do sit ups and pushups.  With Covid, they shut down the facilities.  The whole situation pushed me to be a better person overall and a student of the game.    

Alex Khvatov:  Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Jarrin Pierce:  Freshman year, I played basketball.  I ran track, but I didn’t compete.  I just worked out with the track team to improve my speed.    

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Jarrin Pierce:  I played slot WR and returned punts.    

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Jarrin Pierce:  At first coming out of high school, I had lots of interest.  In the end, I had one offer from Northern Colorado.  I went for a visit, and they told me that they didn’t have a full ride scholarship.  They would give me a partial scholarship.  My family wasn’t financially stable at that time.  I took matters into my own hands.

Alex Khvatov:  How did you wind up at a junior college? 

Jarrin Pierce:  I figured that I would go the junior college route and start over.  I gambled on myself.  Head coach at College of the Canyons watched me play at my high school.  I knew him.  I went to College of the Canyons.  But the first year out of high school, I didn’t play football.  I didn’t want to play.  I thought that I was done with football out of high school.  The head coach told me that I am here when you are ready.  He told me to come back and play.  I played my second year.  I became the starter.  I did very good.  We went undefeated my first season.  Next season, we went undefeated and lost in the first round of the playoffs. 

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you transfer to Middle Tennessee State? 

Jarrin Pierce:  I got a call from Middle Tennessee State.  Coach Franklin said that he believed in me.  I was getting passed up a lot at JUCO.  I was excited to get an opportunity to play at a bigger level.  I knew that I wanted that opportunity and I was grateful.  It was my only offer.    

Alex Khvatov:  How would you describe your junior campaign?          

Jarrin Pierce:  My junior season was great.  They expected a lot from me.  I became the starter.  I started all 12 games.  Unfortunately, we had a losing season, but I still prevailed as a player.  I wasn’t a spring grad.  I reported in June.  I had a lack of chemistry in the beginning with the QB.  I put up numbers.  I knew what I had to do to contribute to the team.  I moved to outside WR.  I played slot at JUCO.  I had to adapt.  It was an opportunity, and I took advantage of it.  I am a ball player.  I am a fast learner and I am coachable.  It came easy.  I kept taking reps and watching film.     

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from your team this upcoming season? 

Jarrin Pierce:  We can expect a great defense.  We have some new weapons on offense.  We are getting along with each other.  We have grad transfers coming in.  We will be way better this season, even with all of this adversity and the pandemic going on.  The pandemic made us stronger mentally and physically.  You can expect big plays from everybody all over the field.        

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Jarrin Pierce:  My main strength is route running.  I take route running very seriously.  My hands and my double moves.  My IQ is getting stronger.  I can read coverage even when it is disguised.   

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Jarrin Pierce:  My top end speed.  Having that second gear.  I want to take a slant 80 yards with ease.  I have been working on my conditioning.  I want to take the top of the defense and score every time I touch the ball.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Jarrin Pierce:  My first collegiate TD against Michigan at the Big House.  It was in the opening game of the season.  I knew that I made it.  I beat the odds.  I took advantage of the opportunity.  I knew that I belonged here. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Jarrin Pierce:  The biggest lesson that I took away is just being coachable and paying attention to details.  I honed in on the details, and it made the game much easier.    

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team? 

Jarrin Pierce:  I was a big Antonio Brown fan.  I guess I am a Steelers fan and also a Rams fan.    

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Jarrin Pierce:  My favorite players are Michael Thomas, DeAndre Hopkins, and Davante Adams.    

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Jarrin Pierce:  We got WR CJ Windham on the other side of me.  We have a slot receiver Jimmy Marshall, RB Jayy McDonald, RT Robert Jones, QB Asher O’Hara, and QB Chase Cunningham.    

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?

Jarrin Pierce:  DB from Western Kentucky.  We had a battle.  #26 CB (Dionte Ruffin).        

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for a WR?

Jarrin Pierce:  The most important trait is to be reliable and consistent.  You have to be someone that the team can count on.

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Jarrin Pierce:  It builds character and keeps you grounded.  You have rules and principles that you have to follow.  It is a team sport.  You are being counted upon, coming through and fulfilling your dreams.  The game makes me smile.  It is fun.  I love being out there.  I have been playing it for a long time.  I lost one of my best friends a couple of years ago.  He was a big football player.  He inspires me to keep going. 

Alex Khvatov:  What makes you unique?

Jarrin Pierce:  I am always willing to learn and help others.  I inspire others.  I know when people need help on and off the field.  On the field, I lead by example.  I have earned my respect.  My work ethic is out of this world.  I am always willing to get better whenever I put my mind into it.    

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Jarrin Pierce:  I like to sing, write music, and play video games.  I hang out with friends and family.  I like to shop and watch YouTube videos.  I sing R&B.  It came from my uncles from my father’s side.  We have singing in our blood.    

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Jarrin Pierce:  I want to pursue some business things.  Some stuff with music.  My major is in entrepreneurship and also in audio engineering.  I want to get my master’s in one of those fields.    

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Jarrin Pierce:  Energetic, positive, respectful, competitor, and loving.