California: Interview with Class of 2016 Bishop Alemany WR Jarrin Pierce
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Quick, shifty, great hands, and dangerous in the open field, all things that are trademarks of a play-making wide receiver, all attributes of Bishop Alemany High School’s Class of 2016 wide receiver/cornerback Jarrin Pierce.
Pierce uses his skill sets well with a game speed in space that is not accurately caught on a straight ahead 40-yard dash. The 5’10”, 180 pound, athlete is also a dangerous punt returner having taken two back to the house already this season.
The Warriors (Mission Hills) are off to a 5-1 start suffering their lone setback of the season last week against in a controversial game against Chaminade (43-40). Alemany has four games remaining against Bishop Amat, Loyola, Serra, and Notre Dame and appear to be a lock for the California High School Football Playoffs.
I sat down with Jarrin before the Warriors home game against Bishop Amat to get his thoughts on the Warriors’ season to date and picked up information on his recruiting status.
Interview
Jarrin, I know you guys are coming off a tough loss to Chaminade, but you still have a great record at 5-1. How does the team look going forward?
“The season is going great so far. Our mentality is we are 1-0 every week and we have to keep playing hard. It’s league now so the first four games really didn’t matter, that was preseason and now it’s the real deal. We are just focused and trying to get to the playoffs and make a run.”
Six games into the season everyone should have a pretty good idea of what type of team they have. In your opinion what is the strength of the Warriors team?
“Strength of the team this year is really our offense and our defense. We all come together, we all do our jobs on the field, and we all know what we have to do to win the game. On defense, we are really holding our own and on offense we are holding our own. It’s like we all carry each other’s weight.”
Is there a game left on the schedule that you are excited to play?
“Our next game against Bishop Amat.”
What excites you about Bishop Amat?
“I’m excited to play Bishop Amat because I know it’ll be a challenge. I’m always up for a challenge. I know that when we beat these guys it’s going to build our conference level to a higher level for the rest of our games. It’ll make us better and I’m excited for that challenge.”
Coming off the Chaminade loss, how did that game go for the team?
“In the first half we started off slow. We could not get what we practiced down in the game. They got the early momentum and got off to a good jump. Our defense, we were not in the right places. During halftime we made adjustments and then we started doing what we needed to do to try to win the game. We had some tough penalties called against us and the game kind of slipped away from us.”
It was a close game, 43-40, you guys still had a chance to win the game.
“Yeah, we had an on-side kick that we recovered with eight seconds left but they gave the ball to Chaminade.”
In sports there is always a positive that can be gained from a loss. Is there a positive that you think the team will gain from this loss?
“Everyone has a different route to the top. I feel like this is just our route. The loss was a little bit of a detour but it will make us even more focused for the next team. It’ll make us come closer together to reach our goal and win. It’ll help us on how to handle our business on the field. It’ll work out for us. Everybody has a different route to the championship.”
What makes you a good wide receiver?
“I’m not that fast but during the play I’m quick and I can get open. I try to emulate Antonio Brown (Steelers). That’s the person that I look up to. I watch film on him. Everything he does I try to take that onto the field. From the snap of the ball I’m going to try to get open as fast as I can. I have great hands. I just want to contribute to the team. Whatever they need from me I want to come through for them. I’m blessed to be on a team like this because I know things will be good for us.”
You play some cornerback too, what do you like about playing corner?
“I feel like playing corner is like playing against yourself because I know what he’s going to do. It’s like looking into the mirror. I know what route he’s going to run with when his stance is a certain way. I know in the back of mind, I know what he’s looking for as a receiver and that gives me an advantage on that side of the ball. When I’m playing DB I’m confident and I have that killer mindset. I’m ready for whatever happens.”
What did you work on in the offseason to improve upon for your senior year and you are now seeing all of that hard work pay off?
“I worked on my releases in and off the press coverage, off press jam, getting my release and back on top of my routes. I worked on getting in and out of my breaks. I worked on my burst, getting that extra burst once I’ve secured the catch. I worked on my hands, route running, my foot work, and my hand eye coordination. I was catching tennis balls behind my back and rice workouts, sticking my hands in rice to make my hands stronger.”
That’s a lot.
“Yeah.”
You return punts as well right? How is that going for you this year?
“It’s great. I love punt returns. When I’m on the field that’s what I love to do. With punt returns, I have all that room to do what I have to do to help get good field position for the offense. I’m pretty good at that and I love it. Some teams do not kick to me because they know I’m dangerous back there.”
Have you taken any back to the house yet?
“Yeah, I’ve taken two to the house but they’ve been called back. I’m always getting us good field position. I get it down to the 10 and we score off that. That’s why special teams matter.”
What was the distance of the two punts you returned for touchdowns?
“One was against Crespi and that was 75-yards and the other was against Garfield and it was 55-yards.”
Did you go to any one-day college camps this summer?
“I attended SDSU (San Diego State) – that was a great camp. I attended the NAU (Northern Arizona) camp, a Washington camp, a Washington State camp, and San Jose State.”
Which camp did you have your best camp performance?
“The Washington camp, I think I did good at the Washington camp.”
What made the Washington camp a good one for you?
“When people recognize my skills at a camp it’s usually during the one-on-one drills. I’m great in the one-on-one drills and that’s usually where I succeed most.”
Which schools are showing interest in you right now?
“The schools showing interest in me are San Diego State, Washington State, Washington, Missouri, NAU, Arizona, USC, Northern Colorado, Fresno State, San Jose State and that’s about it.”
That’s a lot. Have you received an offer yet?
“No one has pulled the trigger yet but I feel like it’s coming soon.”
When the various college coaches talk to you about your skill set what are they telling you they like about your game?
“They say – first and foremost they ask me about are my grades. I tell them they’re exceptional and that I’m improving on and off the field. On the field about my football skills, they say I’m a great route runner, I get open fast, I’m quick, and that I have great hands and that is exactly what they need.”
Nice. That’s all you can ask for as a receiver. Do you know what you want to major in when you go to college?
“I want to major in audio engineering.”
Have you taken your ACT or SAT yet?
“I just took it last Saturday.”
What is your favorite part of playing football?
“My favorite part about playing football, it’s just the brotherhood that it develops. I like how we all come together as one to achieve what we all want and that is winning a state championship and having fun doing it. I like the relationship and the competitive learning football has in the game. I like scoring touchdown and having fun.”
Good luck against Bishop Amat (La Puente) on Friday and the rest of the way.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: scorestream.com; No. 3 Jarrin Pierce pulling in a touchdown pass verses Crespi.
Photo credit: scout.com; Jarrin Pierce at camp.