By Josh Ward
Tennessee’s defense had several issues last season. One glaring problem that stood out: third-down defense. The Vols ranked 13th in the SEC in opponents’ third-down conversion rate last year, ahead of only Missouri. Tennessee’s defense just couldn’t get teams off the field.
One solution to that problem? Improve the pass rush. That’s why the arrival of James Pearce is so important for Tennessee.
Pearce is just a freshman, but he doesn’t look like one. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder from Charlotte looks like he’s spent more than just a couple months in a college weight program. His imposing stature helped earn Pearce a five-star rating as a prospect from On3.com. Two other recruiting sites, Rivals and 247Sports, rated Pearce a four-star prospect, and all three sites ranked him among the nation’s top 20 edge rushers.
That’s one reason Tennessee’s coaches believe he’ll be able to help early. With Pearce’s size
and athleticism, his main objective will be simple: attack the quarterback. That and run down ball carriers. That would help address another issue for Tennessee, defensive team speed.
When Pearce signed with the Vols in December, defensive coordinator Tim Banks pointed to
Pearce’s ability to close out on defense. Now, with players like Pearce, veterans Tyler Baron and Byron Young, and Joshua Josephs, another true freshman, Tennessee has real athleticism on the edge.
That should help Tennessee to get stops and give the ball back to the offense. And if the Vols can build a lead, that could allow the Vols’ edge rushers to tee off.
Still, Pearce has plenty to learn. Is he ready for the physical nature of the SEC? He’ll face future NFL offensive tackles playing in the nation’s top conference.
What about technique and fundamentals? Or the Vols’ defensive scheme? Pearce will need to be a quick study if he wants to earn the trust of his coaches.
It should help that Pearce has someone like Josephs to compete against, along with older players who should be equally motivated by the arrival of some talented newcomers.
Tennessee needs to build depth on defense. That’s at every level, and the more competition the Vols create on the practice field, the better off they’ll be when the season begins on Sept. 1. There are several newcomers Tennessee fans should look forward to seeing early in the season. Pearce belongs near the top of the list.
“We think the sky’s the limit for him,” Banks said on signing day.
That’s why Tennessee pushed so hard to convince Pearce to sign in the early signing period last December. Had he waited another six weeks to sign, more SEC schools would have likely brought the pressure on Pearce to consider other options.
Instead, he went ahead and made it official with Tennessee. And now he can help the Vols
chase those teams at the top of the SEC.
No. 3: Bru McCoy
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