Dan Mullen discusses the example set by Dameon Pierce this season

Dameon Pierce is Florida’s second-leading rusher this season. But he’s making a huge impact off the field, too, according to Dan Mullen.

Pierce is second on Florida’s roster with 44.8 rush yards per game, but he has a team-high 10 rushing touchdowns. He also has 18 receptions for 217 yards and three touchdowns.

But in the locker room, Mullen said Pierce is an important voice.

“I think he does a great job of setting an example of a guy that’s just [worried] about playing hard,” Mullen said on this week’s SEC teleconference. “Worrying about being the best that you can be. If you look at what he’s done and his ability coming in as a freshman and playing on special teams, playing on offense, throughout his entire career, he’s been an extremely consistent performer for us. [He] brings a lot of high energy every day to practice, performs on the field running the ball, performs catching the ball out of the backfield, a great blocker when we need him to be a great blocker and he’s a really good special teams player.

“So I just think it kind of teaches guys professionalism of an approach that you can take of a guy that is all about the team, all about going to work hard and give his best everything that he does and not worry about the silly things … that people get caught up in that aren’t relevant on your improvement as a player and how you’re helping the team to be successful.”

Dameon Pierce is a big part of the Florida offense

Pierce is a former four-star recruit and was the No. 24 prospect in Georgia from the Class of 2018, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

In Florida’s win over Samford last week, Pierce had seven carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown — making three touchdowns on the day. Earlier this week, he was invited to the Senior Bowl, which could give him more exposure around NFL Draft circles.

Pierce’s best season came last year in the COVID-shortened 2020 season when he had 106 carries for 503 yards.

Florida is currently 5-5 overall, meaning the Gators need one more win to become bowl eligible. They’re preparing to take on Missouri this week before closing out the regular season against Florida State Nov. 27.