Hogs Haven
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…
The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.
CLICK HERE to see the full 5 o’clock club archive
In yesterday’s 5 O’Clock Club, we looked at the career of Noah Igbinoghene, a 2020 first-round pick of the Dolphins who never really established himself with Miami. Igbinoghene was traded to the Cowboys in a player-for-player swap last year, but spent most of the ‘23 season on the inactive list. He followed his coaches, Joe Whitt and Dan Quinn, from there to here when he signed as a free agent with the Commanders in March.
Today, I thought it might be good to look at Washington’s other free agent cornerback signing, James Pierre, who is in direct competition with Igbinoghene for a roster spot. Like Igbinoghene, PIerre entered the NFL in the COVID season of 2020; unlike Igbinoghene, Pierre was undrafted out of Florida Atlantic (alma mater of Redskins running back Alfred Morris). He signed with the Steelers in 2020, played 3 seasons under his UDFA contract, and then signed a one-year extension with them in 2023. His pre-NFL back-story is an interesting one that saw him change schools and positions on his way to an eventual NFL roster spot:
James Pierre committed to play football at the University of Miami (Florida) before his Junior year of High School ended. The safety out of Deerfield Beach had been a lifelong Hurricanes fan and signed a commitment the same day they offered it. A year later though, the Huricanes had fired coach Al Golden, and James Pierre de-committed. He was offered a scholarship to North Carolina, signed to play there, but the school denied him admission. Syracuse was next, he signed, they admitted him but the NCAA ruled Pierre ineligible.
Pierre wouldn’t play NCAA football in 2016, but joined Florida Atlantic in 2017 as a true freshman, having satisfied the NCAA and gaining eligibility. It’s a long way to fall from being a high school standout with a scholarship to play for the Miami Hurricanes to joining Florida Atlantic a year behind the rest of your class. His first season he played special teams, and over the course of the season earned playing time at safety. Part way into his sophomore season he would get the chance to start at cornerback, and he didn’t look back, starting 22 games in his sophomore and junior year, and earning honorable mention recognition in Conference USA.
Pierre left school early, but at the same age he would have if his freshman season hadn’t been delayed. He was touted as a day three draft pick but fell out of the draft entirely, signing with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent.
As a rookie, like most undrafted...
