VOLS SIGN THREE JUCO STARS

KNOXVILLE  – Tennessee head coach Butch Jones has announced the addition of three players on Junior College National Signing Day. Joining the Vols are offensive lineman Dontavius Blair (Anniston, Ala.), wide receiver Von Pearson (Newport News, Va.) and defensive lineman Owen Williams (Macon, Ga.)

 

Player Pos. Ht. Wt.  Year Hometown/High School/Previous School

Dontavius Blair OL 6-8     300   Jr.           Anniston, Ala./Anniston/Garden City (Kansas) C.C.

Von Pearson WR 6-3 185 R-Jr. Newport News, Va./Denbigh/Feather River (Calif.) College

Owen Williams DL 6-2     285   R-Jr. Macon, Ga./Westside/Butler (Kansas) C.C.

 

DONTAVIUS BLAIR

Junior • Offensive Line • 6-8 • 300

Anniston, Ala./Anniston/Garden City (Kansas) C.C.

 

Prospect Rankings:

247 Sports: 4-star (No. 8 JUCO prospect, No. 4 offensive tackle, No. 2 prospect in Kansas)

ESPN: 4-star (No. 26 JUCO prospect, No. 6 offensive tackle)

Rivals: 4-star

Scout: 4-star

 

Coach Don Mahoney on Blair: “Dontavius has a tremendous attitude and high character. He is very mature and experienced having played two seasons in junior college. He is a perfect fit for what we are looking for as a tackle.”

 

At Garden City C.C.

• Two-year starter at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas, playing for Matt Miller

• 2013 First Team All-Conference in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference

• Played in the Football Capital Bowl of Kansas in 2013

• Played and started all 17 games in his junior college career

• Helped Broncbusters to 2012 KJCCC Semifinals

 

At Anniston High School

• Four-year starter at Anniston High School in Alabama for coach Eddie Bullock

• First Team Class 4A All-State as a senior

• Helped pave the way for the state’s leading rusher (Troymaine Pope), who gained 2,539 yards and scored 31 touchdowns

• Graded out 93 percent on the offensive line

• Started 50 career games on the offensive line

• Posted more than 200 pancake blocks in his prep career

• Also played basketball and averaged 9.5 points and 10.0 rebounds as a senior

 

Personal:

• Full Name: Dontavius Q. Blair

• Born: Oct. 25, 1993

• Son of Kim Blair and Lorenzo Swink

 

VON PEARSON

R-Junior • Wide Receiver • 6-3 • 185

Newport News, Va./Denbigh/Feather River (Calif.) College

 

Prospect Rankings:

247 Sports: 4-star (No. 4 overall prospect, No. 2 wide receiver, No. 2 prospect in California)

ESPN: 4-star (No. 2 overall prospect, No. 2 wide receiver)

Rivals: 4-star

Scout: 4-star

 

Coach Zach Azzanni on Pearson: “Von was as productive of a player as there was in all of junior college football this past season. He brings instant help as a threat on the outside to our offense.”

 

At Feather River College

• Starred at Feather River College in Quincy, Calif., for coach J.D. Johnson

• Offensive MVP of the Mid-Empire Conference

• Named First Team All-Conference in the Mid-Empire Conference in 2012 and 2013

• Posted national-leading 93 receptions for 1,601 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2013

• Had more than 200 receiving yards in a game on five occasions, including single-game totals of 311, 237, 235, 222 and 201

• Racked up career-best and school records with 311 receiving yards on 19 receptions with three touchdowns vs. Sierra (9/14/13)

• Holds or shares every Feather River receiving record, including single-season receptions (93), career receptions (132), single-season receiving yards (1,601), career receiving yards (2,358), single-season touchdowns (12) and career touchdowns (22)

• In 2012, had 39 catches for 757 yards and 10 touchdowns

 

At Denbigh High School

• Played at Denbigh High School in Newport News, Va., for coach Tracy Harrod, graduating in 2010

• Earned First Team All-Peninsula honors as a receiver and second-team as a defensive back in his senior year

• Named Daily Press Offensive All-Star as a senior in 2009

• Led area receivers with 50 receptions for 880 yards and seven touchdowns

• Honored with All-District accolades in 2009

• Played basketball with the Patriots

 

Personal:

Full name: LaVon Terrell Pearson

Born: June 23, 1991

Son of Jessie Lewis

 

OWEN WILLIAMS

R-Junior • Defensive Line • 6-2 • 285

Macon, Ga./Westside/Butler (Kansas) C.C.

 

Prospect Rankings:

247 Sports: 3-star (No. 17 defensive tackle, No. 18 prospect in Kansas)

ESPN: 3-star (No. 40 overall prospect, No. 12 defensive tackle)

Rivals: 3-star

Scout: 2-star

 

Coach Steve Stripling on Williams: “Owen is very active and plays with a high motor. He has outstanding strength and uses his hands very well.  His activity and play making abilities helped Butler CC to successful season and Owen had a great performance in their bowl game.”

 

At Butler C.C.

• Two-year starter at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas for coach Troy Morrell

• Second Team NJCAA All-American in 2013

• 2013 First Team All-Conference in Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference

• Helped Grizzlies to 2013 Graphic Edge Bowl, making nine tackles in the game

• Led conference in sacks with 7.0 for 50 yards, as part of team-best 15.5 TFLs in 2013

• Piled up 48 tackles and forced a fumble in 2013

• Helped Grizzlies to 2012 KJCCC regular-season and playoff championships

• Racked up 49 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2012

• Also forced two fumbles and recovered one in 2012

 

At Westside High School

• Lettered at Westside High School in Macon Ga., for coach Sheddrick Risper

• All-State by the Georgia Sports Writers Associated in Class AAAA as a junior totaling 86 tackles and 15 sacks

• First Team All-Region 2-AAA, First Team All-Bibb County and Second Team All-Middle as a senior

• Georgia Macon Touchdown Club Lineman of the Week for Oct. 8, 2010 after posting 15 tackles and three sacks in a win

• Played in GACA North-South All-Star Football Classic

• Seminoles compiled a 31-6 record in his three varsity seasons

• Originally signed with Georgia Southern in 2011

 

Personal:

• Full Name: Owen Vidal Williams III

• Born: Sept. 29, 1991

• Son of Shawn and Owen Williams Jr.