CORVALLIS — It can be argued that five quarters into the 2018 college football season, there was no finer running back in the country than Oregon State’s Artavis Pierce.
Pierce kicked off the season with explosive touchdown runs of 78 and 80 yards against Ohio State. A week later against Southern Utah, Pierce was near 100 rushing yards less than 20 minutes into the game.
Pierce averaged 12.1 yards on his first 22 carries of the season. Pierce proved that, given a chance, he’s really good.
So where did that Artavis Pierce go?
He’s around. Pierce says that player who ran away from elite athletes at Ohio State, who had 95 yards in little more than a quarter against Southern Utah, is ready to return.
“I’m just trying to get my confidence back,” Pierce said.
It started with an elbow injury, the result of a fall following a 10-yard run early in the second quarter against Southern Utah. Later in the season, Pierce sustained a rib injury against California. With Jefferson producing the greatest freshman season in Oregon State history, opportunities for Pierce to work out kinks were limited.
Seven months after the 2018 season ended, Pierce is still searching for his confidence.
“I’m very close,” Pierce said. “(Strength coach Mike McDonald) tells me every day, we need that man back. It’s in my head. I’m getting my confidence back. I feel comfortable now. No bumps, no bruises.”
It’s not about ability. It’s not Jefferson. It’s in Pierce’s head.
Pierce is among Jefferson’s top fans. When Pierce left the Southern Utah game, Jefferson made a splashy debut as OSU’s lead back with a 238-yard performance. Jefferson didn’t slow down much after that, posting two of the school’s all-time single-game rushing performances on the way to a 1,380-yard season.
Without the elbow injury, those could have been Pierce’s carries and yards. He’s every bit as capable, as proven against Ohio State and Southern Utah. It’s not a reach for Pierce to believe the next-man-up mindset killed his college career.
That’s not even close to what Pierce thinks.
“I’m proud of him,” Pierce said of Jefferson. “He did a great job. We work off each other. He can do great things. I can get do great things. No tension between us. No hatred.”
Pierce says while Jefferson was piling up the yardage last season, he was there helping and cheering.
“I was there supporting him,” Pierce said. “It’s a lot for a freshman to come in and start.”
Pierce is remarkably at peace with his career and Oregon State situation. The senior played two years behind all-Pac-12 back Ryan Nall. It was clear Pierce had ability from the get-go. As a freshman, Pierce ran for 523 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. During his first two OSU seasons, Pierce caught 36 passes.
With Nall off to carve out a professional football career, Pierce expected to become OSU’s top backfield threat in 2018.
“I felt like I was going to be the guy. I had more experience. I was, until the injury happened,” Pierce said. “I’m not mad at (the injury) or anything.”
When Pierce left the field early in the second quarter against Southern Utah, he said he couldn’t move his arm back to a 90-degree angle.
“I thought it was going to go away in 10 minutes,” Pierce said. “Then they thought it was a fracture. Dang, everything I was working for, just went down.”
Pierce didn’t have a fracture, but he had to wear an elbow brace for four weeks. Pierce returned to action Oct. 6 against Washington State, but found himself sidelined two weeks later against California after sustaining a rib injury. Pierce had only 11 carries during the final five games of the season.
Pierce says he never felt healthy following the Southern Utah game. He felt whole once the Beavers started spring drills in March, but of course, the situation had changed. Jefferson is now the Beavers’ clear-cut No. 1 back.
Pierce has one season remaining in college, and he plans to make the most of it. As soon as 2018 ended, Pierce says he dove into training and the weight room.
“This is my last one,” he said. “It can put me in the (NFL), or not put me in the league.”
Pierce believes he and Jefferson give Oregon State a potent backfield combination. He doesn’t know how the coaches will divvy up the carries, as others such as B.J. Baylor and Calvin Tyler have shown promise, too.
Pierce has value as a receiver out of the backfield, and he’s hoping to return kickoffs as he did as a sophomore. He says he’ll do anything to get on the field.
“Whatever they want,” Pierce said. “I’ll do tackling drills if they want.”
With an eye on a possible NFL career, Pierce says he’s focusing on the details heading into his senior year. For example, he wants to be the team’s best running back at picking up pass rushers.
“In the league, it’s about pass protection,” Pierce said. “If you can’t protect the quarterback, you’re not going to play.”
Pierce’s senior goals are simple. Play and finish the season. Help Oregon State to a bowl game.
But it starts Aug. 30 against Oklahoma State. That’s when Pierce will know if his confidence has returned.
“I know I can do it,” Pierce said. “I just have to get it back.”
-- Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel
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