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Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. declares for 2025 NFL Draft

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•01/15/25
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(© Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel/ USA TODAY NETWORK)

Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Wednesday night. Pearce announced the news on his Twitter page. He figures to be one of the more coveted defensive prospects in the draft. The Tennessee star finished the 2024-2025 season with the second highest edge pressure rate in the FBS (18.8%).

Shortly after Pearce announced, Dane Brugler of The Athletic mentioned that the former Tennessee star will likely be a potential top 20 overall selection. He had 52 pressures this year, leading the SEC. Pearce also tallied 38 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. The 6-foot-4, 242-pound edge rusher also made AP All-SEC second team.

Tennessee had a pretty exceptional year, finishing 10-3 overall and second in the SEC. Their three losses came to Ohio State, Georgia, and Arkansas.

Pearce had a dominant 2023, firmly cementing his status as the top edge rusher in the SEC and one of the best in college football. He earned first team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and Coaches. Pearce tallied 28 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, one interception for a touchdown, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. In his first three seasons with the Vols, he generated 110 quarterback pressures.

As a freshman in 2022, Pearce played in 13 games, racking up five tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks. As a high school prospect, he was one of the most coveted players in America, earning a five-star ranking from On3.com. Pearce helped to guide Chambers High School to back-to-back state titles in 2019 and 2020. As a senior, he erupted for 14.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two safeties, and two interceptions.

He picked the Vols over 18 other offers, including 13 from Power Five schools. Pearce should be an exciting prospect to track in the coming years in the National Football League.