Charles Pierre Jr. back healthy for spring football, eager to lead USD's ground attack in 2026
Apr. 10—VERMILLION, S.D. — Seven months removed from a season-ending ACL injury that halted what many believed would be a breakout season in 2025, Charles Pierre Jr. is back where he feels most like himself: on the field, in pads, and fully engaged in football.
For the University of South Dakota senior running back, the road back hasn't been simple. But as spring practice rolls on in Vermillion, Pierre is no longer defined by rehab timelines or medical updates.
"Mentally, I am in a way better space, you know, physically as well," Pierre said. "I am able to practice with the team as a full participant and I got cleared a couple of weeks ago. Honestly, I am in a really good space and feeling better than ever."
That declaration is significant considering where Pierre was in early September. In Week 2 of the 2025 season, during a non-conference matchup against Lamar University, Pierre's season came to an abrupt end late in the first half when he suffered a torn ACL. At the time, he was USD's unquestioned starter, coming off a sophomore season that placed him among the most productive backs in the FCS.
Instead of building on that momentum, Pierre was forced into the most grueling stretch of his football career, which include months of rehab, and the mental strain that accompanies a significant knee injury.
"It has been mentally draining, but it's also been a blessing to be able to do it as fast as I did," Pierre said. "I spent a minimum of four or five hours in the training room every day doing treatment, recovery, and everything I could to get to the position that I am in now. My surgeon said he has never seen someone heal this fast, and that's a credit to my trainers and all the work I put in."
That work is now paying off during USD's spring practices, which began March 25, marking Pierre's official return as a full participant. While he insists he has "no limitations," the coaching staff has taken a measured approach to Pierre's workload.
"The great part about getting him back for the spring is there's always kind of that mental block coming off that knee injury, and to work out those kinks now rather than in the fall has been great," South Dakota head coach Matt Vitzthum said. "His approach has been good, and he has been out there every single day being a great teammate. He may not take every single rep, and that is by design, but we're slowly and steadily putting him back into a great position. And I think mentally, he's getting into a pretty good space right now."
That "mental block" is often the final hurdle for players returning from ACL injuries — the trust in the body to respond without hesitation, especially during sharp cuts and navigating heavy traffic near the line of scrimmage for football players. And for Pierre, clearing that barrier is just as important as any physical milestone.
"Beating that mental block of worrying about my leg has been much better, and I just have to go out there and be the leader that my team needs me to be," Pierre said. "I just have to keep putting my head down and work just like it was when I first got here."
A year ago, Pierre was poised to become the centerpiece of USD's offense. That opportunity instead went to L.J. Phillips Jr. , who stepped in and delivered one of the most dominant rushing seasons in program history . Phillips rushed for 1,921 yards on 294 carries, both marks ranking second all-time at USD and setting Division I FCS-era program records, while scoring 20 total touchdowns and earning All-America honors.
Phillips has since transferred to the FBS level with the Iowa Hawkeyes , leaving the Coyotes' backfield in Pierre's hands once again. And while Pierre's return headlines the position group, it's far from a one-man show.
"The thing that we realized last year is to do what we want to do and be who we want to be, we're going to need more than one (running) back," Vitzthum said. "At the end of last season, L.J. was a pretty beat dog. He had a great year and I am super proud of him, but we're going to need that whole room. Obviously, Charles is kind of the head of the snake and it's going to start with him, but we got a lot of depth and talent in that room."
That depth includes contributors like Keyondray Jones-Logan, Carson Fletcher, and Reid Watkins, forming a running back room that combines experience, versatility and fresh legs. But still, Pierre's resume speaks for itself as the lead back.
In 2024, he rushed for 1,244 yards on a staggering 7.4 yards per carry, scoring 16 rushing touchdowns and averaging nearly 89 yards per game as a sophomore. He added 190 receiving yards and two scores through the air, earning All-America honors.
Those numbers set the stage for what many expected to be a breakout campaign in 2025. Instead, adversity struck.
"It motivated me because I knew I had more left in the tank, honestly," Pierre said. "Having that early season-ending injury was hard, but it just motivated me to come back and be better than ever."
Motivation wasn't the only thing Pierre carried through the process. He also carried loyalty. In an era where the transfer portal offers countless opportunities for players to reset or reposition their careers, Pierre said he never seriously considered leaving Vermillion.
"These people have always had my back through and through, even before the injury and now after," Pierre said. "This is my family and this is home for me, so that is why I stayed for my final year."
