USF's Pierre-Paul a pain in the neck for opponents

Wearing his all-maroon Fort Scott Community College football uniform, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul sat inside a room at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kan., last September.

Doctors were trying to convince Pierre-Paul that he needed an MRI to determine the severity of a neck injury he suffered that afternoon against Coffeyville Community College.

At first, Pierre-Paul was hesitant. He had more important things to do - like return to the game.

"They were like, 'We'll do some MRIs,'" Pierre-Paul said. "I was like, 'No, I need to get back to the game. I feel better.'"

The doctors convinced Pierre-Paul the sooner he underwent an MRI, the sooner he could return. The MRI was negative, and about 15 minutes later Pierre-Paul left the hospital.

The hospital is six-tenths of a mile from Fort Scott High School, where the Greyhounds play their home games. Pierre-Paul said he considered walking, but he was able to get a ride.

Once Pierre-Paul returned to the stadium, he faced another challenge: convincing the team trainer he had been cleared to play. Luckily, he brought a doctor's note from the hospital.

"Right when I went in, (Coffeyville's) quarterback tried to scramble and I got a sack," Pierre-Paul said. "It was a big game. It was against Coffeyville."

Now a junior at the University of South Florida, Pierre-Paul's days of dominating Coffeyville have been replaced with playing against Florida State, Miami and the Big East.

"I have to play faster, the whole adjustment thing," Pierre-Paul said. "Everyone in Division I football is fast. If not fast, they're big."

So far, Pierre-Paul has come up big.

In last week's upset at No. 18 Florida State, Pierre-Paul had four tackles, including three for losses, plus a sack and a forced fumble. He was named the Big East's Defensive Player of the Week.

FSU quarterback Christian Ponder knew about USF All-American George Selvie, but he was just as impressed with Pierre-Paul.

"They have two really good defensive ends and they are both probably going to go on and play in the (NFL)," Ponder said.

First-year Syracuse coach Doug Marrone, a former NFL assistant, said handling USF's defensive line on Saturday will be tough.

"It would be a challenge for an NFL offensive line against this team," Marrone said "These will be the most talented, best defensive ends we play against."

After playing at Deerfield Beach, Pierre-Paul spent one season at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., before playing last season at Fort Scott.

Returning to Florida, though, wasn't easy for Pierre-Paul - especially because Fort Scott coach Jeff Sims was pressuring him to sign with Nebraska.

"He was trying to look out for me, but no one can tell me what's the best for me but myself," Pierre-Paul said. "He was mad I came here. I'm not going to lie. He knew those (coaches at Nebraska) were his friends."

Sims was pressuring Pierre-Paul so much that on National Signing Day in February, Pierre-Paul said he had to go to the school's library to fax USF his letter-of-intent.

"I couldn't use the football (office's) fax," he said. "I knew I wasn't welcome sending it from the football office."

Through USF's 4-0 start, Pierre-Paul is tied with Selvie with a team-best 4 1/2 tackles for loss.

Pierre-Paul's early impact has been even more impressive considering he arrived two weeks after fall practice began because he was completing online schoolwork.

"He's getting better; he's certainly not there," USF coach Jim Leavitt said. "He has a lot of things to work on. The best thing about Jason is his attitude and his demeanor."

Defensive coordinator Joe Tresey said Pierre-Paul's energy and enthusiasm are contagious.

"The thing that he brings to our group, he has a lot of energy," Tresey said. "He has a lot of enthusiasm and he really loves to play."

Selvie, who has seen nothing but constant double- and triple-teams the past two years, said having Pierre-Paul opposite him is a welcome addition.

"People see he has great potential and he plays very well," Selvie said. "They have to stop trying to double-team me and (can't) just focus on me.

"We also have another end (Craig Marshall) and two inside guys (Aaron Harris and Terrell McClain). Teams have to worry about the whole defensive line and not just me."