PHILADELPHIA – Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. was one of 90 defensive standouts named to the 2024 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, as announced on Monday by the Maxwell Football Club.
For Pearce Jr., this marks his fourth appearance on a preseason watch list for a major award after his breakout sophomore season in 2023 that saw him finish tied for the SEC lead in sacks with 10.
The Bednarik Award has been presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik, who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.
The full Bednarik Award watch list and more information on the award can be found HERE.
Pearce Jr. is coming off a sophomore season in which he earned first-team All-SEC honors after racking up 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native also 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.
Semifinalists for this year’s award will be announced Nov.12, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 26. The winner of the 30th Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 12, 2024. The formal presentations of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.
2024 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh Heupel
Dodd Trophy Watch List
John Campbell Jr., OL, R-Sr.
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Bryson Eason, DL, R-Sr.
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Nico Iamaleava, QB, R-Fr.
Maxwell Award Watch List
Lance Heard, OL, So.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Cooper Mays, C, Sr.
Outland Trophy Watch List
Rimington Trophy Watch List
First-Team All-American (Walter Camp)
First-Team All-SEC (Media)
Second-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Bru McCoy, WR, R-Sr.
Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Sr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
James Pearce Jr., DE, Jr.
Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Lott Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
First-Team All-American (Athlon, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
First-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
Keenan Pili, LB, Sr.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Jackson Ross, P, So.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Dylan Sampson, RB, Jr.
Doak Walker Award Watch List
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Javontez Spraggins, OL, Sr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Omari Thomas, DL, Sr.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List
Squirrel White, WR, Jr.
Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Phil Steele)
