The unquestioned leader of the Vols' offensive unit, Sears was not only a model of consistency in 2006, but had one of the finest seasons of any Tennessee offensive lineman in the history of the program. The powerful left offensive tackle received winning grades for blocking consistency in every game last season, and earned four perfect scores from the coaching staff.

Sears, who started every game for Tennessee since the 2004 Georgia contest, has lined up at every position except center on the Vols' offensive line during his career. The 2006 All-American missed only two games due to injury since his freshman year. As a senior, Sears became the first Tennessee player to win the Jacobs Award, given annually to the best blocker in the Southeastern Conference, since Antone Davis in 1990.

At Russellville High School, Sears was listed on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Super Southern 100 squad and rated the No. 6 prospect on the Tampa Tribune's Best of the South list. He was selected Class 5A Lineman of the Year by Alabama High School Sports magazine and named to the Fox Sports Network's Countdown to Signing Day All-South third team. Rivals.com rated Sears the No. 13 offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 7 prospect in the state of Alabama. He also played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Sears enrolled at Tennessee in 2003, appearing in seven games as a true freshman. He started vs. Mississippi State at right tackle, but suffered an ankle sprain that would sideline him for the final two regular season games.

The 2004 season saw Sears start 12 games, coming off the bench vs. Georgia while nursing an ankle sprain. He proved to be the team's most versatile player, earning starting assignments at left and right tackle and left and right guard during the season. Against Alabama, he earned playing time at both tackle spots in addition to appearing at right guard.

His versatility again came into play in 2005. Despite the team's offensive struggles, Sears was named All-Southeastern Conference first team by the league's coaches. He started every game, lining up for the first two games of season at left tackle, started at right guard at Louisiana State while seeing action at four line positions in that contest, and started at left guard vs. Mississippi, earning SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors.

In 2006, Sears earned All-America and All-SEC recognition. The team captain settled in at left tackle, starting every game there, but also saw action all along the line. He led the team with 71 knockdowns during the regular season. For his career, Sears finished with 26 starts at left tackle, six at right tackle, four at right guard and one at left guard.

Positives: Has a wide frame with a big chest, broad shoulders, long arms, big thighs and calves, adequate-sized hands and good bubble … Compensates for marginal quickness and change-of-direction agility with very good field vision and awareness … Rarely fooled by line games and does a very good job of neutralizing blitzers and picking up stunts … Is smart enough to call blocking assignments and might be a good fit at guard due to his ability to work in unison with the other linemen on combo blocks … Quiet field leader, a self-starter with a good work ethic and takes well to hard coaching … Good-program sort who will mentor the younger players and does the little extras in training to improve his overall strength … Might lack good timed speed, but he is quick out of his stance, firing off the snap with good urgency … Uses his hand placement to lock-on and sustain and knows how to utilize his body mass to occupy space and gain advantage … Does a very good job of sitting down his pads at the line of scrimmage compared to his tall stance on the move … More the type who will use his size to occupy and position, but will struggle when the defender gets outside his frame … Has an explosive burst off the ball and good pop on contact … Uses his hand placement and size to hit with impact, but lacks that explosion when having to work in space … Flashes good hand strength in his surge off the ball and has the leg drive to push the pile … Might lack ideal hip roll, but his lower-body power lets him drive people off the ball and he knows how to use his frame to occupy and wall-off the defender … Has the hand strength and explosion to finish consistently when allowed to stay at the line of scrimmage … Physical drive blocker with the reach to keep defenders off his body … With his punishing hand punch, Sears consistently shocks and jolts the pass rusher coming off the snap … Uses his strength and size to lock-on, steer and wall off the opponent … Did a very good job of showing patience in 2006, letting the defender attack him rather than try to lunge into the blocks (would fall off too much doing this) … Keeps his hands active to defeat counter moves … Hits with authority coming on the rise and always seems to get proper hand placement … Throws his hands quickly to punch and extends well to prevent defenders from getting inside his jersey.

Negatives: Could stand to lose some additional bulk around his midsection to help him generate better balance and change-of-direction agility … Has good straight-line speed, but might be a better fit for an interior line position, as he's too much of a waist bender and is limited by his marginal timed speed when asked to get out in front on pulls and traps … Has good upper-body strength to lock-on and sustain, but struggles when asked to change direction, lacking flexibility in his hips to smoothly redirect … More of a slow-twitched type who waits for the defender to come into his body rather than fire off the snap to generate contact … Uses his size well to cover up the defender working on the line, but is not quick enough to pull or be effective working in space … Slow-twitched in his downfield movement, as he will take false steps and get behind, but he is a patient sort at the line of scrimmage who will wait for an overeager defender to make the first move, as he keeps his hands active to counter … Uses his hands well to mirror, but the quicker edge rushers at the pro level will instantly find they can beat Sears off the corner with quick spin moves … Gets too erect in his running stride and is too tight in his hips to open them and redirect, as he struggles to adjust to moving targets working away from the line … Very good at creating and sustaining a rush lane, but lacks balance and foot speed to be effective leading blocks into the second level … He is prone to taking false steps and crossing his feet on the move, causing him to lose balance.

Compares To: Shawn Andrews, Philadelphia Eagles … Like Andrews, Sears has great explosion and pop on contact. He is a dominant straight-line blocker, but has marginal balance on the move. He will struggle vs. edge rushers at the next level at tackle and will have better success playing inside at guard, where his change-of-direction deficiencies can be covered up better.

2003: Suffered a high ankle sprain vs. Mississippi State (Nov. 15), missing the final two regular season games vs. Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

2004: Missed the second part of spring drills to undergo toe surgery … Sprained his ankle vs. Auburn (Oct. 2) and the injury prevented him from starting the following week vs. Georgia.

Campus: 5.44 in the 40-yard dash … 425-pound bench press … 500-pound squat … 310-pound power clean … 30-inch vertical jump … 33 1/8-inch arm length … 9¾-inch hands.

Attended Russellville (Ala.) High School, playing football for head coach Perry Swindall … Listed on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Super Southern 100 squad and rated the No. 6 prospect on the Tampa Tribune's Best of the South list … Selected Class 5A Lineman of the Year by Alabama High School Sports magazine and named to the Fox Sports Network's Countdown to Signing Day All-South third team … Rivals.com rated Sears the No. 13 offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 7 prospect in the state of Alabama … Also played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Sociology major, with an emphasis in Arts and Sciences … Born Arron Eugene Sears on Oct. 25, 1984 … Resides in Russellville, Ala.