Running back, SMU, 2016–⁠19

Merek Pierce

Number
No. 31
Height
5′9″
Weight
200 lb
Class (2019)
Senior
Hometown
Frisco, TX

Merek Pierce played running back at SMU (2016–⁠19).

Rushing

Rushing yards, season by season, with his team’s record
SeasonTeamCarYdsAvgTDLong
2017SMU3165.308
2018SMU11565.1014
2019SMU10313.117
Career241034.3114

Season lines from CollegeFootballData, regular season and bowls.

On the roster

SeasonTeamNo.PosClassHtWt
2016SMU31RBFr.
2017SMU31RBSo.
2018SMU31RBJr.
2019SMU31RBSr.5′9″200

As each season’s roster listed the player (CollegeFootballData). Classes before the latest listing are counted back from it; “Yr 1” is the year on file where that count can’t place a season he played (a redshirt, transfer or 2020 year); height and weight as last listed.

Per play

SeasonTeamPlaysEPA/playPctileMedianTotalUsage
2017SMU30.38––1.1–
2018SMU110.26––2.8–
2019SMU90.31––2.8–

Expected points added: how much the player’s plays moved the team’s expected score, per play and in total. Plays: total EPA divided by EPA per play, the plays the source credits to him (for a receiver roughly his catches and runs, not every target; for a passer, not every attempt), so it can differ from attempts plus carries. Percentile: against the position’s regulars that season across all divisions on file (quarterbacks with 150+ plays, backs 60+, receivers and tight ends 30+), with how many there were (n) and their median; a dash means too few plays to rank. A season in progress uses the full-season bar scaled by games played, never below 75 plays for quarterbacks, 30 for backs and 20 for receivers. The cohort grows or shrinks with the source’s coverage each season (2025 lists far more players), so compare percentiles rather than raw EPA across years. FCS seasons are marked. Usage: the share of the team’s plays the player was part of (shown from 20 plays). From CollegeFootballData, 2013 on.

Game by game

2019 SMU 2 games, 31 rushing yards, 1 TD
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLong
Sep 14vs.Texas StateW 47–⁠1741917
Sep 28atSouth FloridaW 48–⁠2161204
2018 SMU 2 games, 56 rushing yards
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLong
Sep 22vs.NavyW 31–⁠302001
Sep 29vs.Houston ChristianW 63–⁠27956014
2017 SMU 1 game, 16 rushing yards
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLong
Dec 20 ✦vs.Louisiana TechL 10–⁠5131608

Box scores from CollegeFootballData, 2004 on. ✦ postseason; ★ a career high on file.

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