James Pearce Jr. Stars In Citrus Bowl Victory

Among the many standout performances in the Citrus Bowl, Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. had a fantastic outing. The sophomore defender tallied three tackles, one TFL, a strip-sack, and an interception that he returned for a touchdown. He was the most impactful defender on the field all afternoon, disrupting the rhythm of Iowa's offense.

Defensive coordinator Tim Banks spoke earlier in the week about how Tennessee plans to develop Pearce in the future. They let him play more coverage reps on Monday afternoon, which resulted in the aforementioned pick-six. Pearce has a lengthy, athletic frame that allows him to step out in space when he isn't rushing the passer, something the Vols can use to their advantage next season.

It's tough to imagine a world where Pearce isn't a first-round pick after next season. The Vols found their 2024 offensive leader in quarterback Nico Iamaleava in the Citrus Bowl, but they've known who their 2024 defensive leader is for quite some time. Pearce has one of the highest ceilings in the entire conference and should be a major difference-maker for this squad in the coming months.