The Indianapolis Colts are a pretty young team, and it seems like every year, they have a young guy that just breaks out and becomes a star. In recent years, Indy saw it happen with guys like Shaquille Leonard, Quenton Nelson, and Jonathan Taylor. As the 2023 season approaches, everyone’s asking: who will be next?
The Colts currently have a ton of young promising players on the roster, on both sides of the ball. From rookies like quarterback Anthony Richardson, receiver Josh Downs, and defensive backs Julius Brents and Darius Rush, to second-year guys like Alec Pierce, Jelani Woods, and Rodney Thomas II, Indy’s young talent is deep. Which player is the most likely to become a star in 2023, though?
Kristopher Knox answered that in a recent piece for Bleacher Report, where Knox predicted a breakout star for each team in 2023. The predicted player for the Colts was second-year receiver Alec Pierce.
Bleacher Report predicts Alec Pierce will become a star in 2023
Knox highlighted Pierce’s impressive flashes as a rookie, despite being apart of the stagnant Colts offense. In year one, Alec Pierce played in 16 games and caught 41 passes for 593 yards and two touchdowns. While that was good for a first year, Knox and several others believe that Pierce will take things to a new level in 2023.
For starters, Pierce will elevate to WR2 for the Colts. As a rookie, he played third fiddle to Michael Pittman Jr. and Parris Campbell. Now, Campbell is with the New York Giants, and more will be expected of Pierce. In addition to a bigger role, he’s now being coached by Shane Steichen and will have Anthony Richardson throwing him the ball. Steichen and Richardson should also play a part in Pierce breaking out.
Beyond those factors, it just seems like Pierce has gained experience and is prepared to attack his second year in the NFL. It’s been reported that Pierce has physically developed and has been locked in mentally all offseason. Hopefully, this all translates to Alec Pierce breaking out in 2023 and becoming a star.