Von Pearson “Moving Around” As Wide Receiver

One name that fans of the Vols need to get accustomed to hearing is Von Pearson.

Pearson, a JuCo wide receiver from Virginia, has been praised by the Tennessee coaching staff for his performance during fall camp.

It’s widely expected that Pearson will play primarily from the slot, but I don’t think that’s necessarily going to the case.

On Monday, Butch Jones alluded to Pearson learning all of the wide receiver positions.

"Jones: Von Pearson has had a very quiet but very productive training camp. We are asking a lot of him to know all the receiver positions and he is doing a great job. He brings it everyday."

Pearson has moved all over the line during practice — at least from what we’ve been able to see.

The Vols are fortunate to have a guy like Pearson on the roster. He’s very versatile and he’s showing that by learning all of the wide receiver positions. This is a player that could instantly be a star in the SEC. He has that kind of talent.

Pearson’s biggest issue will be the mental game. Jones mentioned on Monday that Pearson has to limit mental mistakes, saying “We have been on him about the mental approach though. The mental errors, we cannot have mental errors”. 

That’s to be expected to some extent.

Yes, Pearson has played two years of JuCo football, but he’s still new to the style of play in the SEC.

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Even Cordarrelle Patterson, to whom Pearson is often compared, had to get used to playing in the SEC after spending two years at the JuCo level. Patterson was able to overcome his lack of experience with his freakish athletic ability.

That’s what Tennessee is hoping for with Von Pearson.

I think Pearson will have a big impact on the field this season and will be a key part of the Vols’ successes in 2014.

Notes: 

• Jalen Hurd, Emmanual Moseley, Derek Barnett and Ethan Wolf were the first four newcomers to have the black stripe removed from their helmets.
• Jacob Gilliam isn’t just going to give the left tackle job to Dontavius Blair. This is a legitimate battle and I’m now not so sure Blair is the starting left tackle against Utah State.
• Butch Jones said a “number of different running backs” would be used in the wildcat package, which he also called the Vol package.