Pair of Tennessee Vols defenders listed among the top 100 players in college football ahead of 2024 season
A pair of Tennessee Vols defenders were listed this week among CBS Sports' top 100 college football players for the 2024 season. The national sports media outlet revealed their top 100 players in the sport on Monday and Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter came in at No. 1. Right behind Hunter at No. 2 is […]
A pair of Tennessee Vols defenders were listed this week among CBS Sports' top 100 college football players for the 2024 season.
The national sports media outlet revealed their top 100 players in the sport on Monday and Colorado Buffaloes cornerback Travis Hunter came in at No. 1.
Right behind Hunter at No. 2 is Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce.
From CBS Sports: Pearce led the SEC in sacks with 10 for his second season at Tennessee, adding 53 pressures. 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.
Pearce wasn't the only Vols defensive lineman included in CBS Sports' rankings. The Vols' other representative in the top 100 rankings is defensive lineman Omarr Norman-Lott. The former Arizona State defensive lineman is ranked at No. 83.
From CBS Sports: Norman-Lott does not get enough love. A transfer from Arizona State last offseason, Norman-Lott has serious power and the ability to cave the pocket. He's a great mover who does a nice job reading where the slide is in pass protection to defeat the double team. Norman-Lott and James Pearce Jr. should be a headache for opposing offensive linemen in the SEC this year.
Tennessee's defensive line is expected to be a major strength in 2024. Pearce is the superstar of the group, but several of the Vols' defensive linemen have NFL potential, including Norman-Lott, Omari Thomas, Caleb Herring, Joshua Josephs and Bryson Eason, among others.
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