The Tennessee Volunteers are making moves early for their 2027 recruiting class, and a top defensive prospect from the East Coast has them on his short list.

Four-star defensive end James Pace III, a standout from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, recently announced his top five schools. Alongside Tennessee, the 6-foot-2, 225-pound pass rusher is considering South Carolina, Auburn, Georgia, and hometown favorite Maryland.

According to 247Sports, Pace is ranked as the No. 14 defensive end in the 2027 class and the No. 3 overall prospect in the state of Maryland. Those are impressive credentials for a player who still has plenty of room to develop.

The Volunteers extended a scholarship offer to Pace on February 24, 2025, but he has yet to make a visit to Knoxville. That could change as the recruiting cycle heats up, especially with Tennessee looking to bolster its defensive front.

Pace's recruitment has been a long time coming. Florida was the first program to offer him a scholarship back on April 26, 2023. Since then, a who's who of college football powerhouses have joined the chase, including Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Florida State, Miami, and many others.

As for the Vols, they're building momentum in the 2027 class with seven commitments already on board. The group includes linebacker JP Peace, offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, defensive lineman Kadin Fife, quarterback Derrick Baker, athlete Jaden Butler, wide receiver KeSean Bowman, and defensive back Carter Jamison.

Landing a talent like Pace would be a major statement for Tennessee as they continue to recruit nationally. The Vols have a strong tradition of developing defensive linemen, and Neyland Stadium's electric game-day atmosphere—complete with the sea of orange and the roar of 100,000 fans—could be a powerful draw for a young prospect looking to make his mark on the SEC.