Indiana University Athletics
No Challenge Too Daunting for Pierre
10/20/2021 12:03:00 PM | Football
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Michigan State targeted Noah Pierre. Of course, it did. Spartan coaches thought they saw vulnerability in this Indiana redshirt junior defensive back.
They thought wrong.
Pierre was a defensive wonder at cornerback last Saturday at Memorial Stadium. That was huge given he was only playing big-time minutes because injured starters Reese Taylor and Taiwan Mullen could not.
The result -- Pierre had a career-high nine tackles (3 more than he'd had all season) and one huge fourth-quarter interception to give the Hoosiers a final chance at victory.
They couldn't capitalize, and the sting of that disappointment lingers for the Hoosiers (2-4), just as the impact of Pierre's performance does heading into Saturday's sold-out showdown with No. 5 Ohio State (5-1) at Memorial Stadium.
"He's a tough kid, physically tough, strong, showed up on special teams all last year," head coach Tom Allen says. "To me, that's always a great indicator of how well they're going to play if they're a young guy in our defense moving forward."
Pierre's special teams role for most of his IU career has gotten a major upgrade lately because of others' injuries, and if the Spartans hadn't understood his potential, he did.
"It was a moment I've waited for my whole life," he says. "I took it as it came. I wasn't trying to do too much. Just do my job. Hopefully make a play. That happened at the end of the game."
Pierre is a 5-11, 182-pound testament to versatility whose upside surpasses small-size perception. He has played cornerback, safety, husky, and special teams as a Hoosier, with the impression he wouldn't turn down linebacker or defensive lineman or basically anything if offered.
"The first quality that stuck out to me for him was his competitive toughness," Allen says. "He's got a very good football mind. He's able to play multiple positions. That's what's allowed us to move him around."
Playing multiple positions comes naturally to Pierre, who did the same thing as a Florida high school standout.
"I feel wherever the team needs me, I can do it," he says.
This kind of versatility isn't for everyone.
"Some guys you move them from one position to another," Allen says, "and it takes too long for them to pick things up. He's not that way.
"Noah has a really high football IQ. He understands the game and anticipates. What he might lack in size, he makes up for in toughness. He is a very good tackler and you saw that (against Michigan State)."
IU has upgraded its talent in recent years, and it's more than just winning the recruiting ratings. It's about finding prospects other programs miss and developing them to difference-making levels, which sometimes means playing multiple positions.
"We're always trying to find (ways to get those type of guys on the field)," Allen says. "We had (Taylor and Mullen) in front of him that were pretty good. You are like, 'Okay, let's move him to where we have a chance to get him on the field.' We had him at husky position. He has played the safety position, does things on third down."
Pierre's versatility comes from competitive ferocity.
"Off the field, on the field, that's my mindset since I was young."
Pierre began the season at safety, but moved to cornerback when Taylor and Mullen were injured.
"The transition was pretty easy," Pierre says. "Moving around helped me learn the different pieces of the defense."
Pierre's first career interception came in the fourth quarter with Michigan State seeking to put the Hoosiers away. After some guidance from cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby, Pierre was ready. The result -- the interception that gave IU a final chance.
"Being the new guy, I knew Michigan State was trying to target me. They were trying to prove a point.
"In talking with Coach Shelby before the play, he really settled me down. I was getting agitated. It helped me keep my head level. Making the play was really big for the team. I tried to put the team in position to win."
Pierre shows patience often lacking in 21st Century college sports, where guys sometimes transfer at a machine-gun pace, usually because of playing time. Pierre says transferring was never an option despite his back-up role.
"Indiana chose me. I chose them, too. Leaving never crossed my mind. I always wanted to make a point here and prove I could be that player here."
Motivation comes from "my teammates, family, and God. I pray a lot."
Then there's playing behind Mullen and Taylor.
"Those guys are great players. That also motivates me to be better."
Ohio State has three of the Big Ten's best receivers in Garrett Wilson (31 catches, 546 yards, 6 TDs), Chris Olave (30, 494, 7), and Jaxon Smith-Njibga (23, 452, 3).
"They're great receivers," Pierre says, "but we play in the Big Ten. We play against good guys every week."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Michigan State targeted Noah Pierre. Of course, it did. Spartan coaches thought they saw vulnerability in this Indiana redshirt junior defensive back.
They thought wrong.
Pierre was a defensive wonder at cornerback last Saturday at Memorial Stadium. That was huge given he was only playing big-time minutes because injured starters Reese Taylor and Taiwan Mullen could not.
The result -- Pierre had a career-high nine tackles (3 more than he'd had all season) and one huge fourth-quarter interception to give the Hoosiers a final chance at victory.
They couldn't capitalize, and the sting of that disappointment lingers for the Hoosiers (2-4), just as the impact of Pierre's performance does heading into Saturday's sold-out showdown with No. 5 Ohio State (5-1) at Memorial Stadium.
"He's a tough kid, physically tough, strong, showed up on special teams all last year," head coach Tom Allen says. "To me, that's always a great indicator of how well they're going to play if they're a young guy in our defense moving forward."
Pierre's special teams role for most of his IU career has gotten a major upgrade lately because of others' injuries, and if the Spartans hadn't understood his potential, he did.
"It was a moment I've waited for my whole life," he says. "I took it as it came. I wasn't trying to do too much. Just do my job. Hopefully make a play. That happened at the end of the game."
Pierre is a 5-11, 182-pound testament to versatility whose upside surpasses small-size perception. He has played cornerback, safety, husky, and special teams as a Hoosier, with the impression he wouldn't turn down linebacker or defensive lineman or basically anything if offered.
"The first quality that stuck out to me for him was his competitive toughness," Allen says. "He's got a very good football mind. He's able to play multiple positions. That's what's allowed us to move him around."
Playing multiple positions comes naturally to Pierre, who did the same thing as a Florida high school standout.
"I feel wherever the team needs me, I can do it," he says.
This kind of versatility isn't for everyone.
"Some guys you move them from one position to another," Allen says, "and it takes too long for them to pick things up. He's not that way.
"Noah has a really high football IQ. He understands the game and anticipates. What he might lack in size, he makes up for in toughness. He is a very good tackler and you saw that (against Michigan State)."
IU has upgraded its talent in recent years, and it's more than just winning the recruiting ratings. It's about finding prospects other programs miss and developing them to difference-making levels, which sometimes means playing multiple positions.
"We're always trying to find (ways to get those type of guys on the field)," Allen says. "We had (Taylor and Mullen) in front of him that were pretty good. You are like, 'Okay, let's move him to where we have a chance to get him on the field.' We had him at husky position. He has played the safety position, does things on third down."
Pierre's versatility comes from competitive ferocity.
"Off the field, on the field, that's my mindset since I was young."
Pierre began the season at safety, but moved to cornerback when Taylor and Mullen were injured.
"The transition was pretty easy," Pierre says. "Moving around helped me learn the different pieces of the defense."
Pierre's first career interception came in the fourth quarter with Michigan State seeking to put the Hoosiers away. After some guidance from cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby, Pierre was ready. The result -- the interception that gave IU a final chance.
"Being the new guy, I knew Michigan State was trying to target me. They were trying to prove a point.
"In talking with Coach Shelby before the play, he really settled me down. I was getting agitated. It helped me keep my head level. Making the play was really big for the team. I tried to put the team in position to win."
Pierre shows patience often lacking in 21st Century college sports, where guys sometimes transfer at a machine-gun pace, usually because of playing time. Pierre says transferring was never an option despite his back-up role.
"Indiana chose me. I chose them, too. Leaving never crossed my mind. I always wanted to make a point here and prove I could be that player here."
Motivation comes from "my teammates, family, and God. I pray a lot."
Then there's playing behind Mullen and Taylor.
"Those guys are great players. That also motivates me to be better."
Ohio State has three of the Big Ten's best receivers in Garrett Wilson (31 catches, 546 yards, 6 TDs), Chris Olave (30, 494, 7), and Jaxon Smith-Njibga (23, 452, 3).
"They're great receivers," Pierre says, "but we play in the Big Ten. We play against good guys every week."
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
DB
/ FootballFB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 10 (at Maryland)
Thursday, October 30
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 10 (at Maryland)
Wednesday, October 29
FB: Kaelon Black Media Availability (10/28/25)
Tuesday, October 28
FB: Devan Boykin Media Availability (10/28/25)
Tuesday, October 28