Tennessee’s sophomore defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. was arrested on the evening of Dec. 4 for a traffic violation.
According to the Knoxville Police Department’s report obtained by Knox News, Pearce was driving 63 mph in a 35 mph zone. The temporary plates on his car were expired and he failed to show proper identification and any proof of insurance. It was later discovered that Pearce has a suspended license in North Carolina, where the car was registered.
The report also mentioned that Pearce failed to comply with police, refusing to follow instructions when police asked him to turn off the car and step out of the vehicle. He was asked to stand off to the side while the police searched the car, but Pearce approached the car, leading to his arrest. He was charged with speeding, driving on a suspended license, failure to present insurance, registration improperly displayed, and improper window tinting.
“We are aware of the incident involving James Pearce Jr., and we are awaiting more information,” said a spokesperson from the university. Neither the team nor head coach Josh Heupel have released a statement.
Tennessee’s football team has now had three players on its roster who have had traffic violations this season, including Pearce. The other Vols with violations are senior cornerback Doneiko Slaughter and freshman running back DeSean Bishop, both for reckless driving in November and October, respectively. Both players were only issued citations, Pearce is the only arrest.
Pearce is one of the best defensive players in the country. He ranks second in the SEC for sacks and leads Tennessee’s stat book in tackles for loss and quarterback hurries. If he is unable to play in the Vols’ bowl game against No. 21 Iowa on Jan. 1, they will be losing a big force on their defensive line.
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