After three seasons at Tennessee, edge rusher James Pearce Jr. announced on Wednesday that he is leaving school early to enter the 2025 NFL Draft.
Listed at 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, many expect Pearce to be one of the first edge rushers taken off the board during this year’s NFL Draft in a few months.
In 13 games with the Volunteers this past season, he accumulated a total of 55 pressures, 38 tackles, 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
Compared to the rest of the defenders across the nation during the 2024 season, Pearce ranked 13th in total pressures, sixth in pass-rushing win percentage and second in total hurries.
His best performance of the 2024 campaign happened during Tennessee’s big win over Alabama on Oct. 19. In that matchup, Pearce made a huge impact as he racked up a total of 10 pressures and 1.5 sacks.
With Pearce’s help, the Volunteers were able to finish their regular season with a 10-2 record and qualify for one of the 12 spots in the 2024 College Football Playoff. Unfortunately, Tennessee’s dreams of winning a national championship were quickly crushed when they were defeated in the first round by Ohio State.
It will be interesting to see when Pearce is selected during the 2025 NFL Draft. ESPN currently has him ranked as the eighth-best available prospect and the fourth-best edge rusher behind Penn State’s Abdul Carter, Georgia’s Mykel Williams, and Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton.
In his most recent mock draft, ESPN’s Jordan Reid has the Cincinnati Bengals selecting Pearce with the 17th overall pick. Reid described the former Volunteers defender as “a lean, ultra-quick pass rusher who can race around blockers with ease.”
During the next few months, Pearce will have the opportunity to improve his draft stock by participating in events like the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine and Tennessee’s pro day.
If he tests well at these events and impresses teams in his interviews, don’t be surprised if he ultimately ends up being one of the first 10 players selected in this year’s draft.
