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The next step for James Pearce to be an all-around elite player for Tennessee football
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- The next step for James Pearce to be an all-around elite player for Tennessee football
James Pearce has built his profile as one of the most-feared pass rushers in college football and a top NFL prospect during his firs two seasons with Tennessee football .
With likely one season left at Tennessee , defensive line coach Rodney Garner wants to see Pearce build another side of his profile.
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"I talk to him constantly about being the CEO of his brand and being consistent," Garner said Wednesday. "He just can't ride that roller coaster, up-and-down. He's very, very, very, very talented. He's very smart."
Pearce had a breakout, All-SEC season as a sophomore for the Vols which made him a projected top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-5, 242-pound Pearce is back for more as a junior as one of the leaders of Tennessee's defensive front.
How James Pearce has grown for Tennessee football
Pearce tied for the SEC lead with 10 sacks and ranked second with 14½ tackles-for-loss last season. He ranked third nationally among edge rushers in pass-rushing grades, according to Pro Football Focus .
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Garner has seen Pearce grow heading into his junior season in his pursuit of consistency and that continues to be the challenge made.
"He can be elite, but now he has to make sure he's that every day," Garner said. "He can't pick and choose when he's gonna be a pro. He's gotta be a pro every day."
Pearce is part of a veteran defensive front for the Vols. Seniors Omari Thomas, Omarr Norman-Lott, Bryson Eason and Dominic Bailey are among the top defensive linemen for Garner.
James Pearce is projected as a top 2025 NFL Draft pick
Pearce emerged as a top NFL Draft pick with his super sophomore campaign. He is projected widely as a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, while some project him as the No. 1 overall pick. 247Sports and. ProFootball Focus ranked Pearce as the top pick following the 2024 NFL Draft. Quarterback Peyton Manning was the most recent No. 1 pick for Tennessee in 1998.
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Pearce was Tennessee's top signee in the 2022 recruiting class. He was a four-star prospect and top-200 recruit, according to the 247Sports Composite.
The Charlotte native played behind star pass rusher Byron Young as a freshman, but flashed potential. He had five tackles with two tackles for loss and two sacks in 2022.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ ByMikeWilson . If you enjoy Mike's coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How James Pearce can be elite for Tennessee football in 2024
