Only two years separated Brother Rice’s Christian Pierce from his older brother, Trey.
When their Evergreen Park backyard wasn’t capable of containing them anymore, joining the local youth football league signaled a natural progression for the precocious duo.
“My parents put my brother in Pop Warner,” Christian said. “He was probably 4-years-old and I was 2. I was always running along the sidelines at his games or his practices.
“Just watching him play growing up, I couldn’t wait to get on the field.”
When that gilded path took a harsh turn last year, Christian Pierce also had his brother to lean on.
After powering the Crusaders to a 10-7 upset of Maine South in the second week of the regular season, the standout linebacker suffered a torn ACL in his right knee against rival Marist.
“The injury was hard emotionally and physically,” Christian said. “My family, coaches and teammates really helped me out. It was just some more adversity I had to overcome.”
That said, Pierce is ready to go as one of seven returning starters for Brother Rice, which comes in at No. 5 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings.
The only silver lining was the injury allowed Christian, who’s now a senior middle linebacker, to watch his brother Trey’s freshman season at Michigan.
Trey, a former Brother Rice standout, played in 13 games as a defensive lineman and on special teams for the national champion Wolverines.
If Trey provided a template and approach to the game, Christian is ready for his comeback. Most importantly his anguish and private wait are over.
“I worked on a lot of mobility and just getting strength back in the quads and hamstring,” he said. “I’m back 110%. I’m better than I was when I injured it.
“It was a lot of hard work to get back to the point of where I was before the injury.”
Brother Rice’s Christian Pierce (11) goes for the desperation tackle as Mount Carmel’s Danyil Taylor Jr. heads into the end zone during a Class 7A state quarterfinal game in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Michael R. Schmidt / Daily Southtown)
The rest of the Crusaders are thrilled by Pierce’s return, according to senior defensive back Donovan Brown.
“Christian stands out as a motivational leader due to his ability to inspire those around him with his dedication and positive attitude,” Brown said. “He not only achieves impressive results, but also instills a sense of purpose and drive in everybody he mentors.”
Junior quarterback CJ Gray is set to take command of the offense in his first year on the varsity.
“It’s not just the defense he’s a great leader of but really the offense as well, even if he doesn’t play there,” Gray said. “He just energizes the whole team with his attitude and his enthusiasm.
“He’s a great player to have around.”
Like his older brother, Christian Pierce is a sought-after talent at the college level. He has 22 college scholarship offers, the vast majority from the newly refashioned Power Four conferences.
The 6-foot, 215-pound Pierce has the size to play on the line of scrimmage and the speed and quickness to work in coverage. And his brother helped shape his outlook and demeanor.
“I’ve always been drawn to a leadership position to everything I’ve done in life,” he said. “Football is no different. Playing linebacker, I love the versatility of being in the hunt, on the run or having pass responsibilities. It’s a fun position.”
Two years ago as a sophomore, Pierce had the thrill of playing for Brother Rice alongside Trey, who remains his idol. He’s happy for his older brother.
“It was amazing watching him be part of a national championship team,” Pierce said. “He’s definitely been a big impact in life and role model for me. He’s the reason I started playing.
“I was happy for him, and he made me want to follow in his footsteps.”
Team: Brother Rice.
2023 record: 5-5.
Offensive leaders: CJ Gray, junior, quarterback; Jaylin Green, junior, running back; Tyler Lofton, senior, running back; Jimmie Maxson III, senior, wide receiver; Nick White, senior, wide receiver.
Defensive leaders: Donovan Brown, senior, defensive back; King Liggins, junior, defensive end; Christian Pierce, senior, linebacker; Conner Stack, senior, safety; Charlie Stec, senior, defensive lineman.
X-factor: Jovan Green Jr., junior, wide receiver.
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
