Name: Ravian Pierce
Position: Tight end
Year: Junior
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 237 lbs.
Hometown: Plantation, Fla.
High School: Plantation High School
2016 stats: At Southwest Mississippi Community College, he received honorable mention All-American honors after catching 50 passes for 426 yards and two scores (in nine games).
2017 projections: It’s been awhile since the Syracuse Orange have been able to plug in a real game-breaking tight end. Pierce is big and quick, with great hands, and could be an asset for this passing game near the line of scrimmage and in the red zone. Despite Dino Babers’s offense rarely putting tight ends to use in the pass, expect things to go a little differently for Ravian -- somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 catches for 300 yards and five touchdowns.
How’d he get here?: He’d signed with Mississippi State out of high school, then had to go the JUCO route. Pierce then thought he was heading to the Bulldogs once again, before decommitting in 2016, and considering overtures from LSU and Syracuse. He picked the Orange, clearly.
What’d recruiting sites say?: ESPN and 247Sports both said four stars, and Scout and Rivals said three. Fine.
Twitter feed: @thereal6_rp
Tweets of wonder: Big praise from Julian here, in case you needed to be more excited about Ravian’s impact.
Love the way Ravian Pierce can move for his size. Caught every thing (as you should in RVAs). Most athletic TE I've seen at SU in awhile.
— Julian Whigham (@JulianWhigham) August 2, 2017
What movie would Dino recommend for him?: Let’s go with Goldeneye, one of Pierce Brosnan’s additions to the James Bond/007 canon. You loved the video game, and Ravian may too. Perhaps the movie will also entertain.
Interesting nugget o’interest: Ravian appeared in Netflix’s Last Chance U during season one. The team the show focuses on, Southeast Mississippi CC, played against Southwest Mississippi CC in the opening episode.
Let’s get a look at ya: Let’s get some Syracuse tape in here.
Video: Syracuse QBs/receivers go through RVA work. Mahoney/Culpepper near side along with new TE Ravian Pierce (14) pic.twitter.com/5LtMAlnrQ0
— Stephen Bailey (@Stephen_Bailey1) March 23, 2017