ESPN already hyping James Pearce as a 2024 All-American
Tennessee football edge rusher James Pearce is already receiving All American hype for his junior years. ESPN this week named Pearce as a member of its Way-Too-Early All-American Team for the 2024 season.
Pearce was one of four defensive linemen who made the cut, joined by Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Mason Graham (Michigan) and Ashton Gillotte (Louisville).
Pearce during his breakout sophomore season led Tennessee’s defense with 10.0 sacks, four more than the next closest player (Tyler Baron). He led the Vols in tackles for loss with 14.5, three more than Aaron Beasley’s 11.5. And he racked up 16 quarterback hits, 11 ahead of Baron in second place.
He ended the season on a high note, taking an interception back for a touchdown in the win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.
James Pearce led Vols with 10.0 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss
Pearce finished fifth overall in the Pro Football Focus defensive ratings this season, with a 91.0 grade. He was just behind UCLA’s Laiatu Latu (96.2), Marshall’s Elijah Alston (91.2) and SMU’s Elijah Roberts (91.2). Pearce was third in pass rush with a season grade of 92.4, behind Latu (94.2) and Texas State’s Ben Ball(93.0).
Pearce was played 462 snaps in 13 games, with 246 pass-rushing snaps and 182 snaps in run defense.
He was Tennessee’s highest-rated defender with the 91.0 overall grade, coming in ahead of Jaylen McCollough (85.8), Kamal Hadden (85.7) and Keenan Pili (80.8). Fellow sophomore pass rusher Joshua Josephs had a grade of 79.1.
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Josh Heupel: ‘He has a chance to be extremely special’
“James has a great football future in front of him,” Josh Heupel said after Tennessee’s 35-0 win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. “He is a great player right now, but (I) really believe he has a chance to be extremely special.
“Just for him, continuing to grow and his understanding and football IQ as we continue to move him around and put him in positions to win is going to be extremely important as we go through this off-season.”
Heupel described Pearce as versatile in the pass rush, with multiple moves at his disposal. And he noted there is still growth to be had “in some of those fundamentals” and more room to grow in run defense.
“I say all of that,” Heupel said, “(but) he is a dynamic playmaker for us (and) has a really rare and bright future in front of him.”
