For Florida International University offensive lineman Julius Pierce, every snap is more than just another play. It’s a reminder of resilience — a testament to the small-town roots, family values and relentless work ethic that molded him as a kid in Sanford, Florida, into one of the Panthers’ most respected leaders.
“It was awesome growing up in Sanford,” Pierce said. “It has about 67,000 people, but always gave the feeling of a small town because of how close everyone was and how committed people were to helping each other out.”
That sense of community shaped Pierce long before football. In Sanford, he learned the value of support — a lesson that would carry him through both triumph and adversity.
Pierce, who now stands 6’5,” 290 pounds, has always been known as one of the biggest student-athletes.
“Yeah, I was usually among the tallest kids in my grade throughout most of school,” he said with a laugh. “I was never a skyscraper by any means, but I was definitely always placed in the back line for class photos.”
That came with perks.
“Being the tallest kid in class definitely helped me get picked first for most team sports at school during gym class or recess,” he said. “My guess is that they were thinking, ‘Getting Julius on the team equals a free win.’ But in reality, it just meant I could rebound my own missed shot a few times before it finally went in.”
His size soon turned into a competitive edge on the football field, where he started y on the other side of the ball.
“I was a defensive lineman at first and absolutely loved it,” he said. “After [my freshman year], I was moved up to varsity and switched over to the offensive side to play tight end.”
The position change reshaped his understanding of the game. The move to offense required a balance of power and precision, two traits that Pierce embraced.
He committed to FIU on December 19, 2018. During his first two seasons, the FIU lineman didn’t play, but stayed hungry.
Most freshmen wanted to play immediately; he was planning for the long term. He came in as a redshirt sophomore.
“I knew it was a whole different world that I was stepping into from playing tight end to blocking a 280-pound defensive lineman,” he said. “The mentality was just to put this weight on, get stronger, and adapt.”
In 2021, Pierce finally made his college debut against Long Island University on Sept. 2. It was the Panthers’ lone win of the season, finishing with a 1-11 record, but he played in ten games, making him a fixture throughout the offensive line.
His first career start came in the final game of that season against Southern Miss. That’s when an idea struck for Pierce.
“They moved Api (Mane) to left guard and bumped me up to center — that was the start of an idea that didn’t happen until this past year,” Pierce said with a smile. “Back then, one of their senior linemen proposed on senior day, and this past November, on our senior day at Middle Tennessee, I did the same. He definitely put that idea in my head.”
Pierce continued to be a mainstay in the FIU offensive line, making 11 appearances (eight starts) on the offensive line. That would be the first season under head coach Mike MacIntyre, who went 4-8 all three years with the program.
Pierce went on to enter the transfer portal at the conclusion of the season, meaning he left the program to look for a new opportunity. He stayed within Conference USA, transferring over to Middle Tennessee State, located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
“I wouldn’t call it bad blood — I love this place — but I left because I didn’t feel like I fit into what was going on,” he said . “Going to Middle Tennessee was a great move, and playing under Coach Stockstill was a blessing. After our game against FIU, Coach Mike Poly reached out within hours of me entering the portal, and it just worked out.”
During his time at Middle Tennessee State, Pierce played in all 12 games during the 2023 season, starting in eight of them and was named the team’s offensive lineman of the game following their game against UTEP. Remaining in Conference USA meant having to see his former team once a year.
“Seeing FIU once a year was also great because to me it was kind of like my Super Bowl or my homecoming,” he said. “Seeing a lot of guys I still knew, even with the craziness of the transfer portal, there were still guys on the team that were familiar faces, so once a year, knowing I’d go in there and but heads not on a practice field with some familiar faces was pretty interesting.”
During the first game of the 2024 season, Pierce faced one of his toughest challenges — a serious leg injury that threatened to derail everything he had worked for.
“It was a simple inside zone run to the right,” he recalled. “I was helping my guard on a double team, and once I came off to block the linebacker, someone tackled the running back right into my leg.”
In that instant, Pierce feared the worst.
“It was definitely a rough moment for me because everything I’d worked for felt like it was over in an instant,” he said. “Immediately after it happened, I did think that my career was over, but it took no more than a few hours to snap out of that and realize that hard work always works. The setback just mounted for an even better comeback.”
That mindset — “hard work always works” — became a personal motto. And through the recovery process, Pierce discovered just how deep his support system ran.
“Getting hurt is never ideal, but it reminded me how strong my support system is,” Pierce said. “Old teammates, coaches and family all reached out. My mom, uncle, sister and fiancée took care of me daily — shoutout to Brianna and my fiancée for going above and beyond.”
Family has always been the foundation of Pierce’s journey.
“My mom and my uncle are really the two people who poured the most time into me,” he said. “My mom was the one who showed me what a strong work ethic looks like and taught me the value of treating people the right way. My uncle was my main father figure growing up, and he really was the one who taught me how to be a man and always get things handled.”
For Pierce, football success has always been intertwined with family support — especially from his mother, who rarely misses a game.
“Their support means the world to me,” Pierce said. “They’ve bent over backwards to make sure I’ve always felt supported. Them always showing up reminds me that I’m doing this for a purpose. It gives me that extra drive when I’m tired or hurting.”
Pierce’s drive doesn’t stop on the field. While his goal is to keep playing football for as long as possible, he already has a vision for life after the game.
“Hopefully football lasts a few more years, but once I hang up the cleats, I plan on settling down in Tennessee and becoming a firefighter,” he said. “I came to love the state once I transferred to school up there, so I planned on making it home anyway. Now, a lot of my family is there, and it’s where my fiancée is from.”
At the conclusion of the 2024 season, Pierce once again entered the transfer portal, this time coming back to his home state, but more specifically, where he started his career at FIU, something that in the world of college athletics is extremely rare.
“I threw my name in the portal and let things play out,” Pierce said. “I’d built a relationship with Coach Simmons back when he was at FAMU, so when I entered the portal again, I reached out to him. Once I knew FIU wanted me, I was all in — ready to give everything I’ve got for this last year.”
His ambitions reach beyond career titles — they reflect the same values of service and family that have guided him from the start.
“I have a lot of aspirations,” Pierce said. “Right now, I want to reach the next level so my family’s financially secure. I also want to be a firefighter and serve my community — and, most importantly, be a dependable husband and father.”
Pierce’s story is one of perseverance, grounded in gratitude and fueled by purpose. From Sanford to Miami, from defensive line to offensive leader, he’s faced every obstacle with determination and faith in the people around him.
As the Panthers continue their season, Pierce remains a steady presence — a protector not just of his quarterback, but of the team’s culture of toughness and unity.
“We call him ‘Old Man’ or ‘Uncle Julis,’” said offensive line coach Edwin Pata. “He’s our field general — solid, consistent, and the foundation of our offense. His maturity and toughness show through everything he’s been through. He keeps leading and getting the guys lined up.”
He carries with him the lessons from home, the wisdom of his family and the resilience forged through adversity.
“I’ve been through some tough times,” Pierce said. “But every time I line up on that field, I’m reminded of where I came from and who I’m doing it for. That’s what keeps me going.”
