Where Tennessee's James Pearce is projected in ESPN's updated NFL mock draft
ESPN’s updated NFL mock draft this week had Tennessee Football junior edge rusher James Pearce Jr. going No. 2 overall to the Carolina Panthers, selected behind Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, the No. 1 pick to the New York Giants.
“While the (Panthers) added three notable edge rushers this year in free agency (Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Wonnum and K’Lavon Chaisson),” ESPN’s Field Yates wrote, “none of them are signed beyond 2025. Plus, Clowney — the best of the bunch — is in his age-31 season as he tries to replace Brian Burns’ production.
“Pearce has rare explosion off the edge with a lightning-quick first step. After posting 10 sacks in 2023, he has the highest upside of any pass rusher I’ve studied so far.”
James Pearce last season: 14.5 TFL, 10.0 sacks
Pearce erupted onto the scene as a sophomore last season, finishing the year with 14.5 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks in 13 games. He had 28 total tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception returned for a touchdown.
ESPN earlier this month had Pearce at No. 1 overall in its ranking of the top 100 players in college football this season.
“Sometimes we see a breakthrough coming,” ESPN’s Bill Connelly wrote of Pearce, “other times it comes out of nowhere. Pearce, a three-star true sophomore, exploded onto the scene in 2023, recording 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.”
James Pearce in the 2022 On3 Recruiting Rankings: 5-star, No. 11 overall, No. 2 EDGE
Pearce was only a three-star prospect in the ESPN recruiting rankings in the class of 2022. He was a five-star in the On3 ratings, ranked No. 11 overall in the class. He was the No. 2 edge rusher in the country and the No. 1 player out of North Carolina.
ESPN ranked Pearce as the No. 40 edge rusher in his recruiting class and the No. 16 player in North Carolina.
“Among players with 200 or more pass-rush attempts,” Connelly wrote, “(Pearce’s) 20.2% pressure rate ranked third nationally, and his 4.9% havoc rate (TFLs, passes defended and forced fumbles per play) ranked first.”
Pearce ended his breakout year with a season-high four tackles, 1.5 sacks and added an interception returned 52 yards for a touchdown against Iowa in the 35-0 win in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day.
“His performance in a win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl was about as good as you’ll ever see,” Connelly wrote. “He became so dominant so quickly that it almost leads you to wonder: He doesn’t have another gear, does he? And how transformative might it be for Tennessee (and the contenders Tennessee plays) if he does?”
