What James Pearce said bout the NFL Draft process after Tennessee's Pro Day

What edge rusher James Pearce said about the NFL Draft process after going through Tennessee Pro Day this week in Knoxville:

What he was looking to show during Tennessee’s Pro Day, what he felt like he needed to show

“Just come out here, work out, compete with the guys. That’s what I was looking to show off. Just come out here and work.”

If he felt like he did enough at the NFL Scouting Combine to be selective with what he did at Tennessee’s Pro Day

“No, I feel like I did the other drills at the combine. I didn’t do the five-ten-five and the L Drill, but I did everything else.”

What is more challenging in the NFL Draft process, the on-field work or the meetings with teams

“Both. I feel like they go hand in hand in just showing you how to be a pro, its got stuff to do with off the field and on the field.”

If he established a rhythm going through so many meetings with teams

“Oh, it’s good. Smooth. It’s, it’s different (with) each team. Each team is looking for something else or wanted to know something about you that that helps the team and how can they help you. So that’s the same part, telling them how they can help me. But I’m just not a big open-up guy. But within 20 minutes of a phone with me, you got to get to know me as much as possible and how many times we interact during that time.”

How hard it is to open up in those situations when that’s not his natural personality

“Yes sir, it’s not. It’s not. But it’s just a business. I want to get to know them, to see what best fits me, even though it’s their choice. I want to know where I’d be comfortable at once I land and how can I get to know them guys, same way they can get to know me.”

What he has to prove between now and the NFL Draft

“Just keep showing that I’m the best edge, best defender in this draft and just keep putting it out there. One of the best players in this draft, if not the best.” 

The craziest question he has been asked during the interview process

“They just want to get to know about you. It’s nothing off the wall, crazy, that I’m not ready for. They just want get to know about you, type person. I am, what type player I am. They ask it to everybody else, they want to know for me as well.”

What he wants NFL teams to know about him

“That I’m a great guy. I’m a great teammate, great player, great people person. Got a good heart.”

If he has enjoyed the NFL Draft process or if it has been frustrating 

“No, like I said, it’s part of the business, it’s part of being a pro. It’s showing you how (being) a pro is. So I can’t complain about something I dream for.”

What NFL teams have said they like about him on film

“Everything. On the tape there is nothing that you really can dislike. I could be a little better with my hands. There’s always a place to grow in your game. But I haven’t got really too many dislikes.”

Wearing a hoodie at the NFL Combine and a the Tennessee Pro Day

“That’s how always how it worked out. Nothing to it, personally.” 

What has surprised him about the NFL Draft process 

“It’s more enjoyable than people say it is. It’s enjoyable. It’s not the worst thing. “

If being a first-round pick in the NFL Draft matters to him

“It means a lot to me. It means a lot to me to be a great player, a great person. I feel like that’s what first-round picks fall under. That’s what the first pick falls under. I feel like that’s what the best player falls under.” 

What part of his skillset has been highlighted them out during this process

“I’ve been on the board a lot, so I can say my intelligence is probably showing off a little bit, much more than people just get to look at you and can’t tell you’re intelligent. They get to talk to you and break down film and stuff like that. But I get to show that off a little bit.” 

If conversations with NFL personnel have been about his versatility as a pass rusher

“Well, being an EDGE, you can also drop in coverage. I’ve dropped in coverage there. So I’m pretty sure they know I can do it. If they ask me can I do it, I’ll let them know I can.”

Running a 4.47 in the 40 at the NFL Combine, if that’s what he was expecting

“Yeah. I wasn’t expecting to run slow. I was expecting to run fast.”

If that time is what he had been hitting in the training process 

“Yeah, I’ve been hitting pretty good numbers in training. (You) just never open up and run 40 every day. You know what I’m saying? But you break it down, 5, 10, 20, 15.”