Pepe Pearson

Pepe Pearson (born December 11, 1975) is a former American football tailback, starting in college for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Playing career

A four-year letterwinner at Ohio State, Pearson is the Buckeye’s fifth all-time leading rusher (3,121 yards), trailing only Archie Griffin, Eddie George, Tim Spencer, and Keith Byars. His 1,484 rushing yards as a junior is the sixth highest season total in team history. With 17 touchdowns, Pearson is eleventh of the Buckeyes' scoring list. Pearson's most successful game was a 173-yard rushing performance in Ohio State's 1996 victory over Notre Dame.

After completing his college career, Pearson spent time in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. His greatest professional success came in NFL Europe where he scored the game-winning touchdown for the Rhein Fire to win the 2000 World Bowl Championship. He later spent time with the Dayton Warbirds, an expansion team in the National Indoor Football League.

Coaching career

After his playing career ended, Pearson began a career in coaching. Since 2004 he has been the running backs coach for Ohio Dominican University. In 2005 he was also the head coach of the Daytona Beach Hawgs of the NILF, leading them to a playoff berth just before the team was disbanded. He is now currently the Head Coach for the Marion Mayhem of the CIFL (Continental Indoor Football League).