Syracuse-bound Markenzy Pierre deserving of far more attention
by Chris Hays
Every year there are numerous high school football players who are overlooked, under-recruited or just flat out ignored. It happens. It’s part of the landscape.
The recruiting saga of Markenzy Pierre, however, has been one of the most perplexing recruiting conundrums in recent memory.
Pierre, a 6-foot, 218-pound running back at Kissimmee’s Liberty High, just finished off one of the most amazing high school football careers anyone has ever had around these parts.
He put a cap on his historical run into the record books with a ridiculous career finale two weeks ago in which he ran for 447 yards and seven touchdowns against Poinciana, giving him 2,559 yards and 30 touchdowns for his senior season. He leaves his Liberty legacy as the 12th all-time leading rusher in Central Florida history.
He eclipsed the 5,000-yard mark for his career. What’s more impressive is that Pierre compiled his numbers in only three varsity football seasons. His parents did not want him playing varsity football as a freshman, so he was relegated to junior varsity duties.
We knew Pierre was good and had high expectations for his senior season after he rushed for 1,677 yards and 19 touchdowns last year, averaging nine yards per carry. His encore senior season, however, was above and beyond.
“He’s worked extremely hard to get better. Last year he was first team all-state and had almost 1,700 yards and could have easily lived on that,” Liberty head coach Cory Johns said. “Who would have thought that he could get that much better over the course of a year, but he did.”
Pierre finally received a scholarship offer from Syracuse last month, his only offer from a school in the so-called Power Five conferences. Pierre, who had been committed to Western Kentucky, jumped at the opportunity and committed Oct. 28.
Other than the Syracuse offer, he had 10 other options, all from schools in second-tier football conferences. Not even UCF or USF or FAU or FIU offered. Florida, FSU and Miami … Ha, forget it.
“I honestly don’t know and I can’t get an answer out of anybody,” said Johns, who has actively tried to get the attention of various coaches from schools like Florida, NC State, Kentucky, etc., through his contacts.
He hasn’t heard back. Ditto for USF and UCF, who did show up on campus in the spring.
For those who question his abilities, the film doesn’t lie. He’s a strong, tough runner who has second-level speed to create separation. Those who questioned his speed last year could no longer do so after this summer, when he worked his 40-yard-dash times down in to the consistent 4.5-second range.
“I just don’t know what it is and I’m trying to find out. I’m trying to work hard for him because he deserves it,” said Johns, who knows a thing or two about talented running backs having coached a couple when he was at Davenport Ridge in Karlos Williams (FSU/Buffalo Bills), and Mike James (UM/Tampa Bay Bucs).
“Karlos was more of a freak athlete, almost 6-3, 230-pounds and a sub-4.4 40 guy who was recruited mostly as a safety,” Johns said. “Markenzy is a true running back. He understands the blocking scheme, what we’re trying to get done … he knows when to hug the double-team tight, when to bounce it.
“He knows when it’s time to make something happen or when it’s time to put his head down and get three or four yards and be happy with that. He’s just a really good power back.”
The part that is most impressive about Pierre, however, has nothing to do with his numbers or his ability. He’s an amazing young man. To meet him is to become enamored. He’s humble and unassuming and his huge smile highlights his personality. It’s infectious.
Nothing against Syracuse. He should do just fine with the Orange, but this kid deserves more attention.
Pierre doesn’t waste a lot of time concerning himself about it.
“I guess it’s just a matter of them not knowing me. They’re not really seeing my film or I guess it’s just a lack of exposure mostly, to my knowledge,” Pierre said. “I honestly don’t know why.”
In a rare moment of braggadocio, Pierre offered a bit of a warning.
“It does add a chip on my shoulder. All of the other schools are going to regret not finding me so it doesn’t matter where I go. I’m going go out there and ball out and prove everybody wrong who didn’t believe in me.”
