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Commitment breakdown: Rivals250 DE James Pearce signs with Tennessee

Rivals250 defensive end James Pearce wasn't a huge fans of discussing the recruiting process but he had a long list of offers to choose from. The Charlotte (N.C.) Chambers hadn't taken any official visits yet but schools like South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Louisville were really pushing to get his attention. Originally planning on signing in February, Pearce called an audible and decided to sign with Tennessee instead.

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CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State | JUCO

CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State

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WHAT THE VOLS ARE GETTING...

Pearce is a great edge rushing prospect with a very high ceiling. He is fairly raw technically but he has outstanding physical gifts and natural talent. At 6-foot-5, Pearce has a frame that can hold a lot more solid mass, which should help him hold up better against those big SEC offensive tackles. His quickness off the edge makes him a special prospect. Pearce does a great job slipping by potential blockers and getting into the backfield to take down the ball carrier. Expect the strength and conditioning staff to go to work on Pearce and get him field ready fairly quickly.

WHY IT'S BIG FOR TENNESSEE...

The Vols are getting a great pass rusher in Pearce and it's clear that was a priority for the coaching staff in this class. Along with Joshua Josephs, Elijah Herring, and Kalib Perry, Tennessee is going to tough to block in pass situations. The Tennessee coaching staff deserves a lot of credit for getting Pearce onboard without him taking an official visits during the process. If Pearce had prolonged his recruitment and taken a closer look at other schools, things may not have worked out so well for the Vols.

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