3/30/2023 football Edit

Noah Pierre wants to spearhead Indiana defensive backs back to success

Mason Williams • TheHoosier

Senior Writer

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Noah Pierre has no problems.

He's in spring practice heading into his sixth and final season in Bloomington, the previous five having been spent with the No. 21 on his jersey. This year though, for one last go 'round, he'll wear No. 0 to push his mindset of having nothing to stress over in his life.

He's the veteran voice of one of the youngest groups on the team – one that's looking to bounce back after consecutive admittedly disappointing seasons for his guys. He's incredibly vocal at practice, his voice carrying much further than his 5-foot, 11-inch frame would originally suggest. This hasn't always been the norm, he says, but has become more common the more comfortable he is in the program. He's a bottle of energy and he wants everyone to know it.

He also hopes he can be the driving force that brings Indiana back to the relatively recent heights that feel so far removed.

"(I'm trying to) push the younger guys to the best of their ability, making them believe in what we really have going on," Pierre said Thursday. "For the younger guys, they haven't really seen the success in the past that we had."

Now, as much as it's his job to prepare himself for what would be an enthused victory lap this fall, he's tasking himself with pushing that hope onto the teammates that will eventually fill his shoes.

Pierre leads the defensive backs in everything he does, even the stretching lines. (From Tuesday's open practice.)

Although it's year six, there's always still something to learn. Applying new techniques and adjusting to new faces to work with, both freshmen and transfers, Pierre says the process has been a fun challenge to undertake.

That's not to mention a new defensive backs coach and play-caller controlling the defense with Coach Guerrieri. The system may not be a complete overhaul, but with a few added wrinkles that brings the defense a new identity, there's optimism it could be a health partnership. He's already taught the defensive backs a lot, Pierre says, and his high-energy motor meshes well with his guys.

"He's super energetic," Pierre said of Guerrieri. "He's coached a lot of good players in the past, so for me that's big. I'm just looking forward to the next step and what he can make me into."

Guerrieri is entering his first season as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in Bloomington.

However, Pierre knows he can't do it alone. Remember, part of his goal this season is to pass what he hopes is a burning torch to the next generation of defensive backs and safeties. As his dwindles over time, he feels it's his responsibility himself to start lighting others'.

So, when asked about who's sticking out to him amongst his cohorts, Pierre held nothing back in showering his teammates with appreciation.

"Jamari Sharpe. Little Mullen, Trevell, he's a dog," Pierre said. "James Monds, he's been here for a year but I think he's taking the next step. Phillip (Dunham), he played a lot last year but he's also taking the next step, pushing (Josh) Sanguinetti for that first spot."

Ultimately, Pierre has his eyes trained forward, set on a pursuit of proving doubters wrong and leaving the program in a better place than he found it. He's experienced the highest highs the Hoosiers have reached in decades and experienced the carried-over disappointment for two seasons running.

He's heard the noise all along. As so much skepticism and uncertainty surrounds the true expectation of his squad, he's got one last chance at having a direct ability to mute it.

"That 2020 season was a big season, historical season," Pierre said. Just two complete seasons ago, winning was consistent and the Hoosiers were among the nation's elite, unprecedented territory for a program that's not been in that conversation since. He's had a taste and he's hooked. From here, it's all about getting back to it.

"Winning the games that we're supposed to win and then, you know, upsetting some of these teams that the media and the fans think that we can't beat," Pierre said. "Just trying to get back to that."