De'Mornay Pierson-El

Dan Hoppen ‏@danhoppen 12m12 minutes ago
In just a few months on campus, De’Mornay Pierson-El has completely flipped NU’s punt returns. His story (FREE): https://nebraska.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1692759 …

The return doesn't start as De'Mornay Pierson-El prefers it, but he doesn't have a choice.


Mike Sadler's punt comes in low and to his right, and Pierson-El doesn't get a chance to set his feet and start his forward momentum as he prefers. But just minutes before, he had implored defensive leaders Corey Cooper and Josh Mitchell, players five years his senior, to force Michigan State into a three and out.

If they did that, he promised, he would take the ensuing punt to the house.

Down 27-16 with less than four minutes remaining in East Lansing, the defense did its job. Now the ball is in Pierson-El's hands along the right sideline, just short of his own 40-yard line. He quickly accelerates forward, leaving six overanxious defenders in his dust by the time he reaches midfield. Pierson-El's speed renders three more Spartans helpless, and Courtney Love takes care of the last legitimate threat with a strong block. All that's left is the punter.

And poor Sadler doesn't stand a chance.
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Sure hope he gets a few more chances to do damage in the return game. But I have a feeling teams will be doing their best to avoid him from now on.

 
De’Mornay Pierson-El never wants to catch a punt flat-footed. Some sharp coach in youth league taught him to judge kicks well and stay just behind the ball as it tumbles down so he’s accelerating when he catches it.


Never flat-footed, though.

“I don’t think you have any momentum at all,” Pierson-El said. “I try to get behind it and kind of roll to get it. That way I’ll have some momentum. If I do get hit, it won’t be as bad as standing flat-footed.”

First thing Pierson-El looks for after he catches it?

“The most dangerous guy,” said the Nebraska freshman who has returned two punts for touchdowns already in 2014 and helped reinvigorate a unit that lost all of its mojo in 2013 after being decent for much of Bo Pelini’s tenure. Yes, decent; the Huskers ranked in the top 30 nationally in yards per punt return in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Right now, Nebraska is one of seven teams to score two touchdowns on punt returns.
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OWH

 
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Bye week probably hit just right for him, too. Obviously getting on the field a lot as a punt returner and has performed really well. Seeing the field here and there as a WR. Perhaps with some injuries and an extra week to work on things, he's getting the playbook figured out and has earned some more reps on offense.

 
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