BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After another strong showing by the Tennessee defense this past weekend, the Southeastern Conference office announced Monday that a pair of Volunteers were recognized with weekly league honors. Junior edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week, while rookie defensive back Boo Carter earned SEC Co-Freshman of the Week honors.
Pearce is now a three-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week recipient after earning the honor twice last season, while Carter was tabbed SEC Freshman of the Week for the first time in his career. Additionally, the Reese’s Senior Bowl named Pearce its Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Monday morning.
Pearce was dominant once again in Tennessee’s 23-17 overtime win over Florida, registering seven tackles, 0.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The preseason first-team All-American provided the biggest defensive play of the game and one of the most memorable in recent Vols’ history. With Florida at the Tennessee 1-yard line looking to extend its lead to double digits in the first half, Pearce forced Florida quarterback Graham Mertz to fumble at the goal line, and then Pearce recovered that fumble to keep the Gators out of the end zone.
Pearce finished with two QB pressures according to PFF, and his sack came on a critical third down in the fourth quarter with the Gators driving.
Carter produced the best game of his young career, finishing with seven tackles, one sack for a loss of 10 yards, 1.5 tackles for a loss of 11 yards and one QB hurry in Saturday’s victory. The true freshman from Chattanooga finished with season highs in tackles, sacks and tackles for loss as the Vols held their sixth straight opponent under 20 points this season.
Tennessee has earned eight SEC Weekly honors this season and 37 during the Josh Heupel era (2021-present) — including eight Defensive Lineman of the Week awards and seven Freshman of the Week accolades.
SEC Weekly Awards – Week 7
Offensive Player of the Week
Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Whit Weeks, LB, LSU
Anthony Hill, LB, Texas
Special Teams Player of the Week
Brock Taylor, PK, Vanderbilt
Offensive Lineman of the Week
Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week
James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee
Bradyn Swinson, DE, LSU
Co-Freshman of the Week
Michael Van Buren, QB, Mississippi State
Boo Carter, DB, Tennessee
Tennessee Football – 2024 SEC Weekly Honors
Special Teams Player of the Week (1)
Max Gilbert (at Oklahoma, 9/21)
Offensive Lineman of the Week (1)
Cooper Mays (vs. NC State, 9/7)
Defensive Lineman of the Week (2)
Joshua Josephs (at Oklahoma, 9/21)
James Pearce Jr. (vs. Florida, 10/12)
Freshman of the Week (4)
Boo Carter (vs. Florida, 10/12)
Nico Iamaleava (vs. Chattanooga, 8/31; vs. NC State, 9/7; at Oklahoma, 9/21)
