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Pro Football Focus lists James Pearce as best returning defensive player in college football

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•04/05/24•

GrantRamey

James Pearce
Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee football edge-rusher James Pearce is the best returning defensive player in college football, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF this week listed Pearce as “the headliner” on its 2024 College Football All-Returners Team, highlighting the best returning players in the sport.

“Pearce became one of the most fearsome pass rushers in college football this past season,” PFF’s Max Chadwick wrote. “The sophomore’s 21.3% pressure rate ranked third among all edge defenders in the country, as did his 92.4 pass-rush grade. Pearce ended the season as the fourth-most-valuable Power Five edge defender, according to PFF’s wins above average metric.

Las month Chadwick wrote Pearce could potentially be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, thanks to a weak quarterback class. Pro Football Focus went a step further when looking at the 2025 NFL Draft board.

“He has freakish explosiveness at 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds,” Chadwick said, “and he converts speed to power at an elite level. With the 2025 NFL Draft looking like it’ll feature a weaker quarterback class, there’s a real chance that Pearce could be the No. 1 overall pick.”

James Pearce led Tennessee with 10.0 sacks, 14.5 TFLs, 16 QB hits last season

Pearce finished fifth overall in the Pro Football Focus defensive ratings last season, with a 91.0 grade.

He was just behind UCLA’s Laiatu Latu (96.2), Marshall’s Elijah Alston (91.2) and SMU’s Elijah Roberts (91.2). Pearce was third in pass rush with a season grade of 92.4, behind Latu (94.2) and Texas State’s Ben Ball (93.0).

Pearce was played 462 snaps in 13 games, with 246 pass-rushing snaps and 182 snaps in run defense.

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller wrote in January that Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. could have potentially been the first defensive player selected in this year’s NFL Draft, had the superstar sophomore been draft eligible.

‘His speed and savvy pass-rush moves are worthy of the hype’

Pearce led Tennessee’s defense with 10.0 sacks as a sophomore, four more than the next closest player (Tyler Baron). He led the Vols in tackles for loss with 14.5, three more than Aaron Beasley’s 11.5. And he racked up 16 quarterback hits, 11 ahead of Baron in second place.

And he ended his breakout sophomore season by taking an interception back for a touchdown in the win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.

Pearce was Tennessee’s highest-rated defender with the 91.0 overall grade.

“Pearce is a 6-5, 242-pound blur rushing off the edge,” Miller wrote for ESPN in January. “With 43 pressures and 9.5 sacks in 2023, Pearce established himself as one of the best pass-rushers in the SEC. 

“In fact, an AFC West scout who covers the conference told me Pearce would be the first defensive player drafted in the 2024 class if he were draft-eligible. Expectations are high for Pearce, but his speed and savvy pass-rush moves are worthy of the hype.”

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