Oden Pierce is an outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid from Mandeville High School in Mandeville, La. The 2021 recruit stands at 6’2.5 and weighs in at a lean 218 pounds. Pierce has incredible instincts and quickly diagnoses plays at the snap of the ball. He plays well with leverage and uses his hands to shed blocks, and keep offensive lineman off him. Pierce tells me he has a 265 pound bench, a 425 pound squat, and 465 pound deadlift. He currently has a 3.5 GPA and a 24 ACT, but plans to re-take it because he believes he can do better.
When did you start playing football, how old were you?
I started playing football when I was seven years old. It was for rec league football and, it was the first year I ever broke a bone in my body. I know it is kind of a funny but, I really enjoyed football. After that season and dealing with that injury it was like, I knew I wanted to play going forward.
Do you remember the league you played for?
I think it was the West St. Tammany Parish football rec league. The team I played for was the Madisonville Hurricanes. We played against guys like Edgerrin Copper and Justin Ibieta.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Yes sir, for a long time I thought baseball was going to be my sport. From when I was nine until I was about eleven I stopped playing football and just played baseball. In seventh grade a started missing football, and started playing football and baseball. Then when I got to high school, I tried playing both football and baseball and I found that baseball wasn’t the best fit for me. It was causing problems for me physically for football, so I decided not to pursue it.
Growing up on the football side of things, did you always play linebacker, or did you play any other positions?
I actually played offensive line, I played center. I played center and nose guard until seventh grade. Then in seventh grade I played center and defensive end. Then in eighth grade I played tight end and defensive end. Then in high school I got moved to linebacker. Sophomore year, I kind of played a safety linebacker hybrid.
What were your goals from last season?
I wanted to lead our district in sacks.
Who would you say some of your biggest influences are?
Lawrence Taylor, Shaq Barrett, and Tim Tebow.
I like Lawrence Taylor because he is one of the most violent, and I just love the way he plays the game. Like his head is on fire, and he has a swagger about him. He is probably the best defensive player to ever play in the NFL. Also try to really model my game after Shaq Barrett, I know that he is not considered the most athletic defensive end/outside linebacker by any means, but he also lead the NFL in sacks last year. So I really look to him on how I model my game. Then Tim Tebow, not necessarily I model my game after him, but as a person. Being a strong Christian, he is just a role model for me.
Who would you say your favorite NFL player is?
Currently, Shaq Barrett. All time, Lawrence Taylor.
On the football field, what motivates you the most?
There is an abundance of things that motivate me; whether that is to destroy the person that is in front of me, or whether that is to really help my team and win every play that I can, that way our team can win. Then I can celebrate with my team, with my brothers. Usually the thing that gets me going, is when I’m on the field, I can’t let anybody down. That it’s my time to shine that is what gets in my head.
What do you love about football?
I really love the comradery. I love how you can trust somebody to be there for you. To play their part and you play yours to achieve a common goal. I also love the violence. Not many sports besides wrestling and boxing where you can get away with hitting people as hard as you possibly can. That’s really what I love about this game. The tenacity of this sport.
At the end of this upcoming season what would you want your coaches and teammates to say about you?
I would really like them to say that I was a leader, and that I was a good leader. That I was confident, and that I made big time plays in big time moments.
What have you been doing to keep yourself in shape during quarantine?
I’ve been working out at Red Line Fitness and Cross Fit in Mandeville. I think I’ve seen gains pretty much in all categories, athletically. I think I am the fastest, strongest, and biggest I have ever been. I’ve also been working a lot on football and defensive end specific drills.
If you weren’t playing football what sport do you think you would be playing?
Baseball.
Anything you want to add?
Mandeville is a team to watch out for this season. I am going to lay it out on the line for my brothers. Geaux Skippers!
