Josh Heupel: James Pearce has 'a really rare and bright future in front of him'
James Pearce was ready for the moment, even if he didn’t understand why he was preparing for it ahead of time. When Iowa’s Deacon Hill dropped back and threw left to the sideline, Tennessee sophomore breakout star was waiting on the pass.
Pearce intercepted the pass Monday in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando with nothing but open field in front of him, galloping to the end zone and returning the pick 52 yards for a touchdown as the Vols were cruising toward a 35-0 win.
“That wasn’t bad, was it?” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel asked during his postgame press conference, with an ear-to-ear smile stretched across his face and Pearce, seated to his left, looking on.
“Let me tell you, great job understanding the formation,” Heupel continued, “where the bodies are at, what type of release he is getting. Ability to take his eyes, undercut the route, and athletic enough to go make a play.”
That’s when Heupel couldn’t wait to point out what why Pearce was able to step into the spotlight and create a career highlight.
“He is on the JUGS a couple times a week just to make sure that he is ready for that opportunity,” Heupel said. “(Pearce) might have asked why at one point in (his) career, but it is for that moment, and nothing looks better than seeing a big man like him run down the sidelines.”
James Pearce this season: 10.0 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, 16 QB Hits
Pearce spent all season running down quarterbacks. He 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.
“James has a great football future in front of him,” Heupel said. “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.”
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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.”
‘Knowing we are playing a tough defense, I guess the best defense won’
Entering the Citrus Bowl, the talk on defense belonged to Iowa. The Hawkeyes had one of the worst offenses in college football, but they were ranked fourth in scoring defense and fifth in total defense, carrying the team to 10 wins.
Pearce did his part to change the conversation, making sure he got the last word.
He had 1.5 sacks, one quarterback hit and strip-sacked Iowa’s Hill on the 1-yard line to set up another Tennessee touchdown, to go with his head-turning Pick 6.
“We always want to come out and dominate at a really high level no matter who we are playing,” Pearce said. “Knowing we are playing a tough defense, I guess the best defense won.”
