Temple
Ht. 6-0 Wt. 210
Inside Running: Pierce runs behind his pads really well. While he’s not overly powerful he has a great feel for running lanes between the tackles. His vision and instincts allow him to see holes open before they are fully developed and he has the burst to hit the opening. He does an excellent job of getting skinny through the hole and is always falling forward for the extra yard.
Outside Running: Pierce doesn’t have game breaking speed but he can get to the edge. At times he’s too patient and gets tracked down from behind on outside runs. He runs with a low center of gravity and has enough wiggle to make defenders miss. He doesn’t have the extra gear that some of the top runners in this class have.
Hands: Pierce rarely got the ball in pass catching situations but definitely can catch the football. Several occasions jumped out on film where Pierce snagged catches that weren’t routine catches.
Blocking/Durability: He doesn’t appear to be the most willing blocker and doesn’t play to his size. He will have to develop into a better blocker in the NFL. Durability is a concern as he didn’t play a season injury free during his tenure at Temple.
Bottom Line: Pierce doesn’t do anything spectacular but does most everything (outside of blocking) well. He isn’t the most athletically gifted back in this class but he more than makes up for it with outstanding vision, patience, and balance.
Draft Projection: Pierce could be a solid pick in round 2 of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Tags: 2012 NFL Draft, bernard pierce, bernard pierce scouting report