Noah Pierre Strives to Lead Indiana Football Back to 2020 Season's Energy

Indiana defensive back Noah Pierre is entering his sixth season as a Hoosier in 2023. As an older player, he uses his vocal leadership to inspire newcomers and veterans to work to bring the energy it had during a successful 2020 season.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Entering his sixth and final season as a Hoosier, defensive back Noah Pierre's goal is to rekindle the success Indiana had in 2020.

While Indiana only played eight games in the shortened COVID-19 season, the Hoosiers went 6-2 and reached the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla. The season ended with a 26-20 loss to Ole Miss, but it marked back-to-back bowl-eligible seasons, something that's happened just twice at Indiana since the early 1990s.

With one year left on the clock, Pierre wants that feeling again, and he's helping the rest of the defense picture that success through his leadership.

"That 2020 season was a big season, historical season," Pierre said. "I'm just trying to get back to winning the games that we're supposed to win.' 

Indiana's Noah Pierre (0) during Indiana football's Spring Football Saturday event at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 15, 2023 :: © Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pierre wasn't always a vocal leader, especially in his freshman season when he redshirted in 2018. Now, he knows it's his responsibility to lead the newcomers back to a bowl game, an experience Pierre has earned twice as a Hoosier.

"It's just trying to bring that leadership aspect, pushing the younger guys to the best of their ability, making them believe in what we really got going on," Pierre said. "For the younger guys, they haven't really seen the success in the past that we've had, so for me it's just really pushing that hope onto them."

The Hialeah, Fla. native first saw more playing time as a starting cornerback in 2021 and has since been a consistent presence in the Hoosiers' defensive backfield. Last season, Pierre played all 12 games at Indiana's husky position, a safety-linebacker hybrid, totaling 39 tackles, 25 solo and 14 assisted. He placed third on the team with three sacks for a loss of 31 yards.

Pierre put his experience to use by helping out defensive back Louis Moore, who became a Hoosier last season after two years at Navarro (Texas) College, a JUCO program located in Corsicana, Texas.

"I transferred in, Noah was the one starter," Moore said. "We stayed after practice a lot, working on my technique, working on plays we studied in film sessions, all that. Coming in, Noah was that guy for me. I eventually got playing time. We were happy for each other."

Indiana's Louis Moore (20) hits Maryland's Octavian Smith Jr. (15) during the Indiana versus Maryland football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 :: © Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Moore said he knows what Pierre is going to give everyday in practice, playing hard and encouraging everybody else along the way. 

This season, Moore is transitioning to free safety after playing husky last year, and spring ball has given him the time he needs to develop and learn the playbook. In 2022, Moore played in 11 games totaling six solo and three assisted tackles and one sack for the loss of 10 yards. With one season at Indiana on his resume, Moore is working toward the kind of season that Pierre has experienced and yearns for again.

Pierre said around the eighth spring practice he was impressed by redshirt freshmen Jamari Sharpe and James Monds III, plus sophomore Phillip Dunnam, who's fighting Josh Sanguinetti for a starting position. Pierre has also enjoyed working with the transfers.

"It's been fun," Pierre said. "Coming from where they came from, they're giving me new stuff technique wise. I'm giving them new stuff technique wise."

With a a number swap from 21 to 0, Pierre said 'no problems' is his brand, and he will carry that energy with him on the field. Indiana opens its season on Sept. 2 against Ohio State at Memorial Stadium, and Pierre is ready to spark change.

"The edge ain't going to ever be low around Noah," Moore said.

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