James Pearce
(DE)  Chambers HS in Charlotte, NC
6’5”    220
Committed: 12/15/21
4-star average (4-star on Rivals, 3-star on 247Sports & ESPN)

Josh Ward’s Analysis:  Landing Pearce is a win for two reasons: he helps as a pass rusher and it means you don’t have to wait until February to learn his decision. Pearce had planned to wait, but his signing shows the buy-in to Tennessee’s staff. Pearce could be a difference maker as a pass rusher.

Eric Cain’s Analysis:  We didn’t peg Pearce as a December signing candidate, but he wanted to go ahead and get it over with. That’s just fine with the Volunteers as Tim Banks gained another pass-rusher at a position of need. Perce is explosive and has a high motor. He’s got decent bend off the edge and uses his hands well. Pearce will need a lot of work in the individual periods, but will be a big help for Tennessee’s defense down the line and has a chance to play some right away. 

Player Profile:  A versatile and focused defensive lineman with a strong frame and a determined attitude … Rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and On3.com … The top player in the state of North Carolina, and sixth-best edge rusher according to On3.com … Selected to play in the 2021 Carolina Bowl All-Star Game … Named to preseason watch list for 2021 North Carolina Mr. Football … Named to 2021 Preseason All-Observer Team by the Charlotte Observer …  Second-team All-State selection by HighSchoolOT.com as a junior in 2020 … Helped lead Chambers High School to four consecutive North Carolina Class 4A State Championship games, including back-to-back state titles in 2019 and 2020 … Turned heads as a senior with 14.5 sacks, 14 TFLs, nine PBUs, three forced fumbles, two safeties and two interceptions … Chose Tennessee over 18 other offers, 13 from Power 5 schools … Coached by Glenwood Ferebee, a former player at Liberty and offensive coordinator at Howard … Twitter is @JamesPearceJr10 … Instagram is @tenn.jamess.

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Tyre West
(DL)  Tift County HS in Tifton, GA
6’3”    280
Committed: 12/15/21
4-star average (4-star on 247Sports, Rivals & ESPN)

Josh Ward’s Analysis:  Tennessee needs as much defensive line help as it can get, and West should provide it. He’s a former Georgia commit and should provide a physical presence on Tennessee’s interior. The defensive line needs more help with Matthew Butler leaving. Hello, Tyre West.

Eric Cain’s Analysis:  Tennessee’s biggest addition of Signing Day is no-doubt the top-100 defensive lineman from Georgia. Call it the Rodney Garner effect, West wants to be coached by the best and recognizes the opportunity to earn early playing time at Tennessee. He’s overpowering at the high school level and will need to work on his mechanics and bend, but he’s a guy who will help Tennessee in 2022 and beyond. 

Player Profile:  Highly touted defensive line prospect with a quick first step and notable pass-rushing ability … Rated a consensus four-star prospect by all major recruiting services … Tabbed by Rivals as the No. 7 defensive lineman and No. 9 player from the state of Georgia for the class of 2022 … Member of the ESPN300 (No. 74 overall) … Named the Georgia Region 1-7A Defensive Player of the Year as senior in 2021 … Named to the Atlanta Journal Constitution Super 11 in 2021 … Named a 2021 Preseason Class 7A All-State selection by AJC.com … Named a Class 7A First-Team All-State selection as a junior in 2020 … Earned all-region honors in all four years of his prep career … Totaled 48 tackles, 16 quarterback hurries, 12.5 sacks and two forced fumbles his junior season … Had 53 tackles, 10 TFLs, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a sophomore … Made 41 tackles, seven TFLs, six sacks and one fumble recovering as a freshman … Helped lead Tift County High School to the Georgia Class 7A State Playoffs as a senior in 2021 … Chose Tennessee over 22 other Division I offers, including 21 Power 5 programs … Committed to the Vols in Dec. 2021 … Coached by Noel Dean … Twitter handle is @Tyre_west95 … Instagram handle is @reewoo._.

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Kaleb Webb
(WR) McEachern HS in Powder Springs, GA   
6’3″    190
Committed: 12/10/21
4-star average (4-star on 247Sports & Rivals, 3-star on ESPN)

Josh Ward’s Analysis:  Webb has a nice combination of size and speed to add to Tennessee’s group of receivers. He had a big senior season, which helped his profile grow. Tennessee’s staff believes that improvement will continue in Knoxville.

Eric Cain’s Analysis:  A longtime East Carolina commit, the wideout chose the Volunteers over Michigan and Louisville. Webb is long, plays outside and has the frame to add some good weight (6-4, 195). The athlete utilizes his strides to get behind defenders and high-points the football well. A special teams guy, too, Webb has returned several kicks for touchdown at the prep level. Webb has great potential in this Heupel offense as a guy outside the numbers.  

Player Profile:  A big and physical wide receiver from the Peach State who burst onto the scene with a huge senior season … Rated a four-star prospect according to the 247Sports Composite, 247Sports.com, On3.com and Rivals.com … Ranked as the No. 160 overall player and No. 22 wide receiver prospect in the country by On3.com … The No. 48 rated receiver in the nation and No. 30 player in the state of Georgia according to 247Sports Composite … Considered the No. 45 overall wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com … Named the Georgia High School Football Daily 2021 Region 2-7A Player of the Year … Caught 83 passes for 1,601 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior in 2021 to earn all-state accolades … Became the first McEachern High School player to tally over 1,000 receiving yards in a season since 2015 … A team captain, who also was a threat on special teams, totaling 807 return yards and scoring four return touchdowns for the Indians in 2021 … Helped McEachern rebound from a disappointing season in 2020 to win the Georgia 7A Region 2 title in 2021 and lead the Indians to the second round of the state playoffs … Chose Tennessee over 20 other Division I offers, including eight Power 5 programs … Committed to the Vols in Dec. 2021 … Coached by Franklin Stephens … Twitter handle is @kalebwebb3 … Instagram handle is @ka1ebwebb.

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Chas Nimrod
(WR) Bentonville HS in Bentonville, AR  
6’3″    183
Committed: 8/5/21
3-star average (3-star on 247Sports, Rivals & ESPN)

Josh Ward’s Analysis:  Nimrod looks like a really good athlete with his background in track. With his size, Nimrod should offer legit playmaking skills in Josh Heupel’s offense.

Eric Cain’s Analysis:  Another late bloomer, the Tennessee staff offered the Arkansas native following a private workout in August. Nimrod can play all over – inside or out – and is a deeper-threat target down the field. He’s a great away from the ball as well, blocking downfield on run plays. Another special teams player, Nimrod could get a look as a returner. The wideout is more a developmental player, but one who could be a steal down the line as the SEC offer was good enough to keep away Utah State, Illinois, Washington State, Indiana and Kansas State. 

Player Profile:  Speedy receiver and dual-sport standout for Bentonville High School in Northwest Arkansas … Rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 36 wide receiver in the nation by On3.com … Rated a three-star wideout by 247Sports.com, Rivals and ESPN.com … A consensus top-10 player in the state of Arkansas by all major recruiting services … Ranked the No. 5 overall player in the state of Arkansas by Rivals.com and No. 9 by 247Sports.com … Led BHS to an 8-2 record in the 2021 regular season, hauling in 46 catches for 919 yards and 11 touchdowns … Took home all-state honors as a junior in 2020, racking up 34 catches for 772 yards and 12 touchdowns … Also runs track for BHS and set a school record on the 4×100-meter relay in April 2021 … Committed to the Vols in August 2021 … Chose Tennessee over 24 other Division I schools, including eight Power 5 institutions … Coached by Jody Grant … Twitter handle is @NimrodChas … Instagram handle is @chasnimrod.

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Dylan Sampson
(RB)  Dutchtown HS in Geismer, LA       
5’11”  185
Committed: 6/14/21
3-star average (4-star on 247Sports, 3-star on Rivals & ESPN)

Josh Ward’s Analysis:  Sampson fits a trend you’ll find with offensive skill players in this class: he has speed. Sampson will have a chance to play immediately and should provide a nice 1-2 punch with rising sophomore Jaylen Wright from a playmaking standpoint.

Eric Cain’s Analysis:  The new Tennessee running back committed to the Volunteers back in June and brings elusiveness and ‘scat-back’ ability to the offense. As part of a decorated prep career, Sampson broke two school records who were previously held by Eddie Lacy. He’s got decent size and will benefit from a strength program. Missing spring practice will be a challenge for the newcomer in fall camp, but there are snaps to be earned in the backfield.

Player Profile:  A record-breaking, speedy running back out of Dutchtown High School in Louisiana … Tabbed a four-star prospect by On3.com and a three-star standout by 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and ESPN.com … Listed as the No. 30 overall running back and No. 15 overall prospect in the state of Louisiana by 247Sports.com … Considered the No. 8 overall all-purpose back by Rivals.com … Shattered NFL and Dutchtown alum Eddie Lacy’s program record for all-time rushing yards, racking up 4,927 yards on 521 carries … Also broke the school’s single-game rushing mark with 23 carries for 287 yards and four touchdowns against Ouachita in Oct. 2021 … Finished his senior season as a team captain with 1,673 all-purpose yards, including 1,374 rushing, to go along with 22 touchdowns in 2021 … Averaged 9.28 yards per carry as a senior and received all-state accolades … Named The Advocate’s 2020 Most Outstanding Offensive Player on the Class 5A-4A All-Metro team and selected to the LSWA’s Class 5A all-state team after rushing for 1,327 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight games as a junior … A standout on the track as well, timed at 10.48 seconds in the 100, 21.16 in the 200 and 4.32 in the 40-yard dash … Committed to the Vols after 28 scholarship offers in June 2021 … His leadership skills extended beyond the field where he posted over a 4.0 GPA, was named Homecoming King and selected as a Student of the Year finalist … Coached by Guy Mistretta … Twitter handle is @dylans21527 … Instagram handle is @d_samp_.

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