Jaxson Moi James Pearce Jr., the Tennessee Volunteers’ defensive lineman, has been one of the focal points of conversations surrounding the team’s struggles during the 2024 season. As the Volunteers have faced a disappointing start to their season, questions have arisen about what has gone wrong for a team that, just a year ago, was on the rise. The blame has fallen on various aspects of the program, but one of the more contentious topics has been the performance of Pearce, especially considering his prominence on the defensive line. Although blaming an individual player for an entire team’s underperformance is a complicated task, there are valid reasons why Pearce’s contributions have come under scrutiny this season.
To understand the connection between Pearce’s play and Tennessee’s underwhelming campaign, it is important to consider several key factors: his individual performance, the broader defensive struggles of the team, the role of leadership, and how the expectations around Pearce have changed from previous years.
### The Rise of Pearce: Expectations Set High
Before diving into the current issues, it’s essential to first examine Jaxson Pearce’s rise within Tennessee’s defensive ranks. Pearce was a highly touted recruit, boasting a combination of size, strength, and agility that made him a key figure in the Volunteers’ defensive plans. Standing at 6’5” and weighing around 300 pounds, Pearce quickly became a standout presence on the defensive line, with scouts and analysts alike projecting him as an eventual NFL prospect.
In the first few seasons, Pearce lived up to much of this promise. His ability to disrupt opposing offenses, his quickness off the line, and his sheer power made him one of the most exciting young talents in the SEC. Pearce showed glimpses of becoming the anchor of a defensive line that could match up with the best in the nation. His performances in 2022, in particular, were solid, as he helped the Volunteers climb the SEC standings and become a more formidable team overall. Tennessee was competitive, and Pearce’s physicality on the defensive line was an important component of that success.
Heading into the 2024 season, expectations for Pearce were sky-high. He was expected to step into a leadership role, helping guide a defense that had seen considerable turnover, with many of the team’s key players from the 2023 season moving on. As the only experienced, proven defensive lineman, Pearce was the centerpiece of a unit looking to continue the success Tennessee had experienced in the years prior. Many saw him as a key factor in Tennessee’s hopes to remain competitive in the SEC and potentially challenge for higher honors.
### The Disappointment of the 2024 Season
However, the 2024 season has been an uphill battle for both Pearce and the entire Tennessee defense. The Volunteers have struggled to match their usual intensity on defense, and much of the team’s overall underperformance has been attributed to the inability of the defensive line, Pearce included, to generate the pressure and disruption that defined the unit in years past. Tennessee’s defense has looked disjointed, often unable to stop the run or generate consistent pass-rush pressure on opposing quarterbacks. These issues have been exacerbated by inconsistencies in other areas of the team, including the offense, but the defensive line’s struggles have been the most visible.
Pearce has certainly been a part of these struggles. While he hasn’t been a complete liability, his individual performance has been below the high standard set in previous seasons. There have been games where he failed to make a significant impact, whether in terms of tackles for loss, sacks, or even disruptions in the backfield. Against high-powered SEC offenses, Pearce’s inability to get after the quarterback and pressure opposing offensive lines has been a major point of concern.
One of the most glaring statistics has been Pearce’s inability to generate consistent sack numbers. Heading into 2024, many analysts had predicted that Pearce would be one of the most feared defensive linemen in college football, but his sack total has been underwhelming. With teams focusing more on him and making sure to neutralize his impact, Pearce has been unable to break through. For a defensive lineman of his talent, this drop-off in production has led to widespread frustration among the fanbase and media alike. Critics have begun to question whether Pearce is living up to his potential or if he’s simply another example of the team’s broader inability to perform at the highest level.
### Teamwide Struggles: How Pearce Fits into the Larger Picture
While Pearce’s performance has been disappointing, it is crucial to understand that the defensive struggles are not entirely his fault. Tennessee’s defense as a whole has underperformed, and while Pearce has been a key piece of the unit, he cannot shoulder the blame alone. The team’s defense has suffered from multiple issues: poor linebacker play, inconsistency in the secondary, and an inability to stop the run. These issues compound the struggles of the defensive line and, in turn, affect Pearce’s ability to thrive.
The lack of pass-rush production, for example, cannot be blamed solely on Pearce. Often, defensive linemen rely on the schemes around them, as well as the pressure generated from other areas of the defense, such as the linebackers or cornerbacks. Pearce has faced double-teams and additional attention, which has limited his ability to make plays. Furthermore, Tennessee has struggled to stop the run in 2024, and a defensive lineman like Pearce is tasked with not just rushing the passer but also plugging gaps and stopping runs at the line of scrimmage. This dual responsibility has put added pressure on him, which may explain part of his lack of consistent playmaking.
Pearce also plays within a larger defensive system that may not be maximizing his strengths. The Volunteers’ defensive scheme, particularly in the 2024 season, has been criticized for being too predictable, failing to create mismatches or confusing the opposing offense. As a result, Pearce’s individual ability to disrupt plays has been neutralized, as opposing offensive lines are prepared for his every move. Without the right system to support him, Pearce has found it difficult to execute his game at the level many had expected.
### Leadership and Accountability
In addition to his individual performance, Pearce’s leadership role on the team has been a point of criticism. As one of the most experienced players on defense, Pearce was expected to take charge and help guide younger players through the ups and downs of a challenging season. However, some have argued that Pearce has not provided the leadership necessary to keep the defense from faltering. This includes on-field leadership, where Pearce has not been as vocal or dominant in motivating his teammates. In a unit that has struggled, leadership—especially from a player with Pearce’s pedigree—can be a difference-maker.
Moreover, Pearce’s own accountability has been questioned. While he has said all the right things in interviews, there is a sense that he has not been as aggressive or impactful as expected. In key moments, Pearce has been missing in action, and his performance has not reflected the high level of preparation and effort that the team needs. This raises questions about whether Pearce has fully embraced his responsibility to lead by example on the field.
### The Future of Pearce and the Tennessee Defense
Looking forward, the future of both Pearce and Tennessee’s defense depends on a few key factors. First, Pearce will need to elevate his game and return to the form that made him one of the most promising young defensive players in college football. This includes not just generating pressure and sacks but also playing with greater consistency against the run and showing up in key moments.
Additionally, Tennessee’s defensive coaching staff must find a way to maximize Pearce’s abilities within the context of the team’s broader defensive scheme. The Volunteers need to adjust their approach to better suit Pearce’s skill set and exploit the weaknesses of opposing offenses. This could involve more creative blitzing schemes, better alignment of players, and a more aggressive style of play that puts pressure on offensive lines from multiple angles.
If Pearce can find a way to improve his game and lead Tennessee’s defense with greater authority, the Volunteers may still have time to turn around their season. However, if the current trajectory continues, the blame for Tennessee’s underwhelming 2024 season will continue to rest, in part, on Pearce’s shoulders.
