Vol Club Confidential: James Pearce - sponsored by Knoxville Smiles
Tennessee junior James Pearce is heading into his third year on Rocky Top enjoying every minute of being in the team environment. He joined Vol Club Confidential brought to you by Knoxville Smiles to talk about how much fun he has playing ball.
“When I’m winning and being around the guys just bonding,” Pearce said, “Knowing one goal and just wanting to be successful at something.”
When Pearce first got to Knoxville, one player stood out in terms of how they worked.
“For me it was Hendo,” Pearce said. “Him being just up the road from where I’m from and even before I got to campus I ran into him. Ever since that moment he has been there and watching learning off the field the process.”
The state of North Carolina has traditionally been good to the Vols. While it may be known as a hoops state, Pearce said the pigskin is no slouch.
“I say everything about it,” Pearce said. “There are some dogs that come from that way. They keep us known as the hoops state but I think we get after it off the court and on the field too. Football is where it’s at too.”
Pearce was right at the top of all SEC defensive linemen with 10 sacks and ranked in the top five overall in the league with 14.5 tackles for loss this season. He had his first defensive touchdown with a pick-six against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.
Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner is a load to play for. He demands so much of his players and coaches them hard accordingly. He also loves his kids up to and getting coached that way is important to Pearce.
“It wasn’t that hard of an adjustment because I got coached hard growing up playing sports,” Pearce said. “But coming from him and knowing it’s coming from a good place, him pushing me, him wanting everything from everyone around him because that’s how he carries himself.”
