Tennessee Vols player named as the top returning player in college football in 2024

A key Tennessee Vols player was named this week by 247Sports as the top returning player in college football for the 2024 season.

247Sports ranked the top 25 returning players in the sport on Friday and Vols edge rusher James Pearce came in at No. 1 on their list.

From 247Sports : Pearce ranks in a tie for the fourth-most sacks among returning players after he racked up 10 last season as the SEC's top edge rusher. He is the early favorite to come off the board first at the 2025 NFL Draft.

Pearce, a Charlotte native who will be a junior this fall, is already being projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The former four-star recruit had a breakout year as a sophomore for Tennessee last season, totaling 10 sacks while also scoring his first career touchdown (an interception returned for a touchdown in the Vols' blowout win against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl).

Pearce is expected to receive plenty of extra attention from opposing teams in 2024, which could limit his production (at least when it comes to his stats), but his impact will undoubtedly be felt even if he's not sacking the quarterback once a game.

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