James Pearce Jr. ranked No. 1 overall player in 2024

ESPN released its top 100 college football players before the start of the 2024 season on Thursday. Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. ranked as the No. 1 player.

“Entering his third season at Tennessee, the 6-5, 243-pound Pearce is the top pass rusher in the country despite having started only three career games,” ESPN said. “He’s projected as a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft and has 16.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his first two seasons. Pearce was a first-team All-SEC selection last season by both the AP and coaches after ranking fifth nationally with 38 total pressures.”

Tennessee’s quarterback Nico Iamaleava was also ranked by ESPN at No. 92.

Pearce Jr. was also named to ESPN’s preseason first team All-American team.