Colts draft WR Alec Pierce: 5 things to know

After trading back with the Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard waited until pick No. 53 to make the team’s first selection in the 2022 NFL draft.

After much suspense, Cincinnati wide receiver Alec Pierce is the newest member of the blue and white. Here are five things to know about Matt Ryan’s newest weapon:

Four-sport athlete

Pierce’s athletic ability is very apparent when you watch his tapes. His unique combination of size and speed makes him a great fit in any offense. In high school, Pierce flexed his skills by being a four-sport athlete. He was on the football, volleyball, basketball and track teams as well.

It’s in the genes

Alec Pierce’s athletic skill does not come out of left field. He comes from a very active and athletic family. His father, Greg Pierce, played football at Northwestern. His mother, Stephanie, was on the Wildcats’ volleyball squad. His brother, Justin, played basketball at William & Mary and the University of North Carolina.

Almost a linebacker?

During his freshman year at Cincinnati, Pierce spent the majority of it on special teams. He finished the year with six tackles and was skilled defensively after having a great senior year as a two-way player. When Cincinnati preparing for the Military Bowl in 2018 against Virginia Tech, Pierce practiced with the linebackers in the weeks leading up to the game. He eventually transitioned back to receiver and well…the rest is history.

Smart on and off the field

Pierce’s impressive accolades do not end on the gridiron. He is also very savvy in math and science, which led to him completing the University of Cincinnati’s five-year engineering program in just *four* years. He is also very smart when it comes to physics. Pierce said the heavy class load taught him time management and helped him on the field as well.

Checks all the boxes

There aren’t many prospects who checked more boxes than Pierce. He attended the Senior Bowl and was a team captain. His size, speed and skillset all fall into what the Colts typically target in wide receivers. He also is proven run blocker who loves engaging with defenders in the run game.

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