CARD: Panini Contenders 2022 Optic
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2024

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

• Dameon Pierce was an underutilized RB for the Florida Gators.
• Played at Gainesville from 2018-’21.
• Ran for 1,806 yards and 23 TDs on 329 carries over his time there.
• A bowling ball of a back with explosive power, Pierce clocked in at 5’9″, 235.
• He’d be selected in the 4th round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.
• Pierce went on to have a fine rookie season for an otherwise terrible offense.
• Had his first 100+ yard game running for 131 yards on 14 carries in week 4 against the Chargers.
• Pierce was starting to make rumblings as a potential dark horse rookie of the year candidate, but his rookie season ended abruptly in Week 14 after he suffered an ankle injury.
• All in all Pierce compiled a fine rookie campaign with 939 yards rushing on 220 carries, and 4 TDs.
• He suffered the notorious sophomore slump in 2023 as he struggled with nicks and tears, along with an adjustment to a ZBS.
• Supplanted in the lineup, he ran for 416 yards and 2 TDs.
• In a bright spot however, he put his time in as a returner on special teams, and returned a kickoff 98 yards for a TD in a loss to the Browns.

NOTES:

Well the market for Dameon cratered so I took advantage of the the situation to pick up an autograph of his. I really tried hard to digest the ’22 Texans campaign with Pierce and Pitre standing out as players I kicked the can on getting a jersey of. I was surprised that Pierce didn’t adapt to the ZBS, but I like him to stick it out as a change of pace back for the franchise.