NFL Scout Has High Praise For James Pearce Jr.

Tennessee Volunteers edge rusher James Pearce Jr. is a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but an NFL scout things he has the talent to leave even earlier.
In this story:

Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner continues to produce premium professional talent. Several former Vols are making plays in the NFL along the defensive front, and next year Tennessee could be sending a star to the NFL. 

Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has all the tools to become a high-impact Sunday player. He tallied 8.5 sacks this season, having numerous impressive moments that made you think he could have a top-10 upside. ESPN's Matt Miller recently released an article centered around 2025 NFL Draft prospects, and he seemed to agree. You can read the full article here on ESPN+, but look at what he had to say about Pearce. 

"A legitimate top-five returning player for the 2025 draft class, Pearce is a 6-5, 242-pound blur rushing off the edge. 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." - ESPN's Matt Miller on James Pearce Jr.

Tennessee Volunteers EDGE James Pearce Jr. forcing a fumble during the loss to Alabama. (Photo by Gary Cosby Jr. of USA Today Sports)

You Might Also Like:

Join the community:

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @VolunteerCountry & follow us on Twitter at @VCountryFN.


Published
Evan Crowell
EVAN CROWELL

Evan Crowell is currently pursuing a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and has various media experiences throughout his young career. He's been committed to marrying the fan's perspective of the game of football to the technical intricacies installed in each game by coaches and players. Crowell has been working at Fan Nation since 2020 and has covered high-profile college football games, recruiting events, and more during that five-year tenure. While he never played football, he's worked relentlessly to continue improving his understanding of the game while still covering the unique stories of each individual he covers.