Most true freshmen on a Division I football team spend a lot of their time wondering if they will get a sniff of the playing field during their first year. They stand as close to the coach as they can, hoping that he will use them for one situation or another. The word "most" does not apply to Virginia running back Alvin Pearman.
Touching the ball on the very first play of the season against Wisconsin, Pearman knew he would play a pivotal role in the Cavaliers' success this year. With a quick burst and a couple of broken tackles, Pearman rumbled down the right sideline for 61 yards to open his college career and Virginia's 2001 campaign.
Fast forward five weeks and you will see Pearman at number two on the depth chart at running back. He is the number one man for kickoff and punt returns. The 5-foot-10, 192-pound running back from Charlotte, N.C., is so good he already is drawing comparisons to a former Virginia great who also sported the No. 21 jersey.
The last time a Virginia running back wore No. 21, he was busy becoming Virginia's first running back to have back-to-back 1,000 yard-seasons. Later he became the leading rusher in Virginia history. A versatile back, renowned for his quick feet and football IQ, Tiki Barber is a name most Virginia fans know well.
Barber is three years removed from Virginia, however, and now Pearman is trying to show fans that he can be just as legendary as his predecessor. So far, he is doing quite the job.
"The number has a lot of tradition behind it," Pearman said. "I'm not afraid of that, because I'm just going to go out and play football. The number doesn't make the man. It's neat I get to wear it, but I'm Alvin Pearman, and I'm going to play football like Alvin Pearman."
Pearman leads Virginia in all-purpose yards as a true freshman, and is fourth in the ACC in punt returns. He averages 103 all-purpose yards per game, and 9.9 yards per punt return. He also leads the team in yards per carry with a 5.1-yard average. He had his biggest game of the year against Duke, when he carried the ball for 54 yards on eight carries.
In a backfield that was extremely deep at the beginning of the season, there were thoughts that Pearman might be red-shirted, or moved to wide receiver. Virginia coach Al Groh said he is glad he has a versatile back like Pearman who has developed into the productive player he is now.
"Alvin and I talked a lot about his similarities with" Barber, Groh said. Pearman "is competitively tough. He is fast in any league. He shows he has very good quickness and acceleration. In meeting and being around Alvin, I saw that his self-confidence was very apparent."
Pearman was not sure that he would attend Virginia after former coach George Welsh, who recruited Pearman last fall, decided to retire in December. But, Groh mentioned the comparisons to Barber and told Pearman that he would like to use him in a similar way - as a multipurpose back. Soon after, he decided to recommit.
"After a little while - after the coaching changes - I really didn't know what was going on, so I thought I had to go and look at my options," Pearman said. "When [Groh] came to my house he told me all about [Barber]. He sent me little things about how Tiki was doing in the NFL. I'm similar to his size, so I've always been a fan of his."
But make no mistake about it. Pearman wants to be his own player. He understands the tradition that goes along with being a Virginia running back. He would like to be the next great one in a long list, but is determined to make a name for himself.
Not only is Pearman a star on the field, he is truly personable and courteous. He also is quick to point out that faith is the foremost value in his life.
"Right now faith is the most important thing," Pearman said. "As long as I stay close to that, everything will fall in line. I prayed about coming here everyday, and God led me here, and led me to choose the right school"
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