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USF

Pierson's stock rises after strong combine

TAMPA -- To the surprise of no one affiliated with South Florida football, Shurron Pierson was one of the standouts of the NFL scouting combine, which concluded Monday.

The defensive end is the first USF player to declare early for the draft, and his athletic ability overwhelmed observers in Indianapolis, such as CNNSI.com's Tony Pauline:

"The little known junior prospect from (USF) sped across the field with a pair of 40 times in the low 4.6 area," Pauline wrote. "He then blew away the competition with a broad jump more than 6 inches longer than the nearest lineman. When placed at linebacker Pierson displayed the same quickness and explosion as he had earlier in the day. ... Pierson has turned their heads and may now be headed toward the first day of the draft."

The turf at the combine is slow, and Pierson's 4.61 is roughly considered a 4.49. Pierson, 6-2, 244 pounds, plans to run for scouts at least two more times at USF, Monday and March 18.

Two months ago, most NFL teams knew little or nothing about Pierson. A few weeks ago, Mel Kiper Jr. was touting him as a fourth- to sixth-round pick. Now, he looks like a first-day choice (first three rounds April 26), which would make him the highest drafted player in USF history.

His agent, Gene Burrough, had not heard of Pierson until teammate Maurice Tucker mentioned him. Tucker, a fleet cornerback who also could be drafted, confessed to Burrough, "I have to admit, he outruns me."

"I made some calls around. A few people knew about him," said Burrough, who also represents ex-Bulls Tucker, DeAndrew Rubin and Ken "Shaq" Dawson. "Now, everybody knows about him.

"Shurron will run much faster when (scouts) come to his school."

Pierson, from Wildwood, has run a 4.4. He did not play as a freshman for academic reasons and is only 20, adding to his precociousness. He played two seasons at USF, setting the school record with 10 sacks as a sophomore.

Burrough said he spoke with a Carolina scout who was "just raving" about Pierson and said his time in the first 10 yards of the 40 was "incredible, cornerback time." Burrough expects him to be drafted in the second round.

"I've been in this business for 33 years and I've never heard of a lineman running a 4.4 being a second-day pick," Burrough said. "His only disadvantage is teams have to decide what position they want him to play, how they want to use him, at end or linebacker. They aren't going to wait to the second day to make that decision."

HIM TOO: Linebacker Kawika Mitchell, USF's leading tackler, also impressed at the combine. He is a possible first-day pick, but most projections have him going on Day 2. Mitchell also garnered mention on CNNSI.com: "The surprises came from ... Mitchell, who was listed last year at 6 feet 2, 255 pounds and ran in the 4.7 range." "He's a big guy, but he can run," Jets coach Herman Edwards said.

SOFTBALL SURGE: Catcher Courtney Lewellen, a Seminole graduate, has twice been named Conference USA player of the week while helping the Bulls to a 10-game winning streak, including a victory over nationally ranked Oklahoma. USF (16-4) opens C-USA play this weekend at home against East Carolina.

-- Pete Young covers USF sports. He can be reached at (813) 226-3346 or via e-mail young@sptimes.com .

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