James Pearce Jr. Ranks as No. 2 CFB Player, According to CBS Sports

Tennessee Volunteers edge rusher James Pearce Jr. continues to draw massive amounts of hype entering a critical junior campaign.

Jan 1, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) scores a / Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee Volunteers edge rusher James Pearce Jr. continues to draw massive amounts of hype entering a critical junior campaign.

Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is now firmly in the national spotlight. He's had a full offseason of first-round hype and potential No. 1 pick conversations, and now, he's being touted as one of the elite players in college football. CBS Sports released their top 100 college football players ahead of the season, and Pearce checked in at No. 2.

He came in behind Colorado's Travis Hunter, a hybrid wide receiver/corner who was the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 cycle. There's the conversation that with a weak 2025 quarterback class, a defensive player could come away with the Heisman Trophy. That's a lofty aspiration for a defensive lineman, but at the very least, Pearce should expect to be a top player every time he sets foot on the field. CBS Sports writer Blake Brockermeyer broke down what he likes about Pearce entering his junior season.

"Pearce led the SEC in sacks with 10 for his second season at Tennessee, adding 53 pressures," Brockermeyer wrote. "There are makings of a dominant pass-rusher here and Pearce has the ability to be a top-10 pick. His film is a blast. Pearce routinely abuses offensive tackles with a mixture of speed, power and nice inside moves. There are so many instances where Pearce reverse-pancakes offensive tackles into the quarterback, and a handful of them are for sacks. That is every offensive lineman's worst nightmare and the ultimate embarrassment for a highlight reel. Stay tuned for a huge season in Knoxville."

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