Tennessee Vols player named a top candidate to receive multiple prestigious awards in 2024

247Sports recently named the top candidates for several of college football's biggest awards in 2024 and they think Tennessee Vols superstar edge rusher James Pearce is in line to take home a couple awards this fall.

The national sports media outlet has Pearce as the top candidate to bring home the Bednarik Award, the Nagurski Trophy, and the Lombardi Award.

From 247Sports : James Pearce Jr. has a case to be college football's top returning player for the 2024 season. He ranks in a tie for the fourth-most sacks among returning defenders after he racked up 10 last season as the SEC's top edge rusher. Pearce is the early favorite to come off the board first at the 2025 NFL Draft, and he headlines a Volunteers pass-rushing unit that could be the most disruptive in the nation this year. The Tennessee star could be in line for one of the best individual defensive seasons in program history.

The Bednarik Award is given annually to the college defensive player of the year (a Tennessee player has never won the award).

The Nagurski Trophy is presented by the FWAA to the best college defensive player of the year. Tennessee's never had a Nagurski Trophy winner.

The Lombardi Award is given annually to the best college football defensive lineman of the year. Remarkably, a Tennessee player has never won this award, either. Legendary Vols defensive end Reggie White had a shot to win the award in 1983 when he was named the SEC defensive player of the year, but the award instead went to Nebraska offensive lineman Dean Steinkuhler.

It would be quite a shock if Pearce doesn't end the season with a couple of these awards on his résumé.

Related: Bob Stoops should root for Josh Heupel over Oklahoma in 2024 and it shouldn't even be a hard decision