Lombardi Award Tabs Pearce Jr. to Preseason Watch List
August 15, 2024 | Football
HOSUTON – Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr. added yet another preseason honor to his resume on Thursday when the Lombardi Award Committee announced its preseason watch list for the 51st edition of the award.
The Lombardi Award is presented annually to the nation's best lineman or linebacker and features players across various eligible positions including defensive line, linebacker, offensive line and tight end.
The award was established in 1970, in memory of legendary coach Vince Lombardi. It is presented to outstanding linemen who best epitomize his values of leadership, courage, performance and discipline on and off the field. Furthermore, the watch list includes players who are consistently showing the values of strength, agility and football acumen in their respective positions.
Pearce Jr. was one of 90 total players tabbed to the 2024 watch list, 35 of which were defensive linemen. The SEC led all conferences with 19 players on the watch list. The full watch list can be seen HERE.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native  is coming off a breakout sophomore season in which he earned first-team All-SEC honors after racking up 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Pearce Jr. added two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and an interception return for a touchdown last year and enters this season as projected top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pearce Jr. was also tabbed the No. 1 player in ESPN's listing of the nation's top 100 college football players that was released on Thursday morning.
Dodd Trophy Watch List
John Campbell Jr., OL, R-Sr.
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Bryson Eason, DL, R-Sr.
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Nico Iamaleava, QB, R-Fr.
Maxwell Award Watch List
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
ESPN.com College Football Top 100 Player (No. 92)
Â
Lance Heard, OL, So.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Â
Cooper Mays, C, Sr.
Outland Trophy Watch List
Rimington Trophy Watch List
First-Team All-American (Walter Camp)
Second-Team All-American (ESPN, Phil Steele)
First-Team All-SEC (Media)
Second-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Bru McCoy, WR, R-Sr.
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Jaxson Moi, DL, Jr.
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
Â
Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Sr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Â
James Pearce Jr., DE, Jr.
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Lombardi Award Watch List
Lott Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
First-Team All-American (The Athletic, Athlon, ESPN, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
First-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
ESPN.com College Football Top 100 Player (No. 1)
Â
Keenan Pili, LB, Sr.
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Jackson Ross, P, So.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Â
Dylan Sampson, RB, Jr.
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Â
Javontez Spraggins, OL, Sr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Omari Thomas, DL, Sr.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Squirrel White, WR, Jr.
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Phil Steele)
The Lombardi Award is presented annually to the nation's best lineman or linebacker and features players across various eligible positions including defensive line, linebacker, offensive line and tight end.
The award was established in 1970, in memory of legendary coach Vince Lombardi. It is presented to outstanding linemen who best epitomize his values of leadership, courage, performance and discipline on and off the field. Furthermore, the watch list includes players who are consistently showing the values of strength, agility and football acumen in their respective positions.
Pearce Jr. was one of 90 total players tabbed to the 2024 watch list, 35 of which were defensive linemen. The SEC led all conferences with 19 players on the watch list. The full watch list can be seen HERE.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native  is coming off a breakout sophomore season in which he earned first-team All-SEC honors after racking up 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Pearce Jr. added two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and an interception return for a touchdown last year and enters this season as projected top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pearce Jr. was also tabbed the No. 1 player in ESPN's listing of the nation's top 100 college football players that was released on Thursday morning.
2024 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh HeupelDodd Trophy Watch List
John Campbell Jr., OL, R-Sr.
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Bryson Eason, DL, R-Sr.
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Nico Iamaleava, QB, R-Fr.
Maxwell Award Watch List
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
ESPN.com College Football Top 100 Player (No. 92)
Â
Lance Heard, OL, So.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Â
Cooper Mays, C, Sr.
Outland Trophy Watch List
Rimington Trophy Watch List
First-Team All-American (Walter Camp)
Second-Team All-American (ESPN, Phil Steele)
First-Team All-SEC (Media)
Second-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Bru McCoy, WR, R-Sr.
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Jaxson Moi, DL, Jr.
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
Â
Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Sr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Â
James Pearce Jr., DE, Jr.
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Lombardi Award Watch List
Lott Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
First-Team All-American (The Athletic, Athlon, ESPN, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
First-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
ESPN.com College Football Top 100 Player (No. 1)
Â
Keenan Pili, LB, Sr.
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Jackson Ross, P, So.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Â
Dylan Sampson, RB, Jr.
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Â
Javontez Spraggins, OL, Sr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Omari Thomas, DL, Sr.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Â
Squirrel White, WR, Jr.
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
P
/ Football
RB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ FootballFB | Cinematic Recap vs. Syracuse (8.30.25)
Tuesday, September 02
FB | Willie Martinez Press Conference (9.2.25)
Tuesday, September 02
FB | Joey Halzle Press Conference (9.2.25)
Tuesday, September 02
FB | Josh Heupel Press Conference (9.1.25)
Monday, September 01
