James Pearce strip sack leads to quick score for Tennessee vs. Alabama

James Pearce is a grown man.

The Vols sophomore edge rusher has been one of the better defenders in the SEC, if not college football this season. And that’s not an exaggeration. Pearce came off the edge like a bullet and forced the ball out of Jalen Milroe’s grasp in the first quarter of Tennessee’s battle against rival Alabama.

A Vols defender pounced on it soon after.

The Vols’ offense sputtered in the red zone following the turnover but was still able to tack on a field goal to make the score 13-0. That’s been the story of the game thus far for Tennessee, which has moved the ball very well but struggled to finish drives in the end zone.

Here’s the strip sack:

James Pearce Jr. pic.twitter.com/KZcLajeMoC

— CHANNEL (@CHANNEL_TN_) October 21, 2023

That’s just a silly play.

Pearce is up to 7 sacks on the season through 7 games, and there are still 3 quarters of football to play. The Vols defense has dominated thus far, and the ball has been in Alabama territory essentially since play started it seems.

Hopefully for Vols fans, the inability to finish drives in the end zone doesn’t come back to bite them.

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.