After two years away, offensive lineman returns to FIU as a more mature player

Julius Pierce admits he couldn’t handle the City of Miami.

Not then.

But now – after a couple of years away – Pierce, 24, is older, wiser and more focused on his studies, his fiancée and his role as the likely starting center on FIU’s football team.

“Miami is pretty fast,” said Pierce, who is from the small Central Florida town of Sanford (population: 61,000). “I couldn’t keep up with Miami. I had to walk away and grow up a bit, mature, come back and see things in a different light.

“I now appreciate Miami more. I love this place.”

Indeed, Pierce spent his first four collegiate seasons at FIU, although he didn’t play at all in the first two. In his third season, he played 10 games, including one start. Then, in 2022, he played 11 games for the Panthers, including eight starts.

The past two years, Pierce was at Middle Tennessee State. He played 12 games, including eight starts, for the Blue Raiders in 2023.

Last year, he played just one game for the Blue Raiders before suffering a season-ending leg injury.

Pierce said he “didn’t fit in” with FIU’s previous staff, led by Mike MacIntyre, but he jumped at the chance at joining the Panthers under new coach Willie Simmons.

“It was an excellent coaching staff,” said of the group led by MacIntyre. “But it was a personal thing for me.

“At Middle Tennessee, it was an excellent two years. I ended up growing up there. I met my fiancée, (Tennessee native) Brooklyn MacIntosh, soon to be Pierce.”

There is no wedding date yet for MacIntosh, who is preparing to try out for the Houston Texans cheerleading squad; and Pierce, a Criminal Justice major who is set to graduate in December.

As for his future employment, Pierce initially wanted to become a police officer. But his new plan is to become a fire-fighter in Tennessee.

“You are on for 24 hours and off for 48,” Pierce said. “This will allow more time for family.”

For now, FIU is his family, and Pierce is thrilled to be playing for Simmons.

These two men go back a few years. After the 2022 season, when Pierce put his name into the transfer portal, he took an unofficial visit to Florida A&M, where Simmons was coaching.

“Anybody can attest to what kind of a man Coach Simmons is,” Pierce said. “There’s mutual respect.

“I think he could see what I can do from watching the tape and all that goodness, and I love it here.”

Pierce said he has received an “awesome reception” from his teammates even though he counts just 12 players that he knew from his previous stop at FIU.

At 6-4 and 295 pounds, Pierce looks forward to the battles in the trenches in what shapes up to be the final football season of his career.

“I like playing center and making the calls,” Pierce said. “I like leading the charge and being the vocal guy.

“But, bottom line, I’m there to hit people. That’s my job description.”

Pierce, highly personable during his interview, is keenly aware that his job description comes with its perils.

While playing for FIU in 2022, he suffered a concussion. In his career, Pierce said he has had “three or four” concussions.

“I have a lot of concern,” Pierce said. “If I break a finger, I still have nine more. If I break my right leg like I did last year, just tape me up, give me an Advil and put me back on the field.

“But my head and my back are two things I don’t play around with.”