James Pearce Jr.

James Pearce Jr., Tennessee, DE, 6052, 245, Jr.

Overview

Pearce profiles as an immediate impact pass-rush specialist with the ceiling to develop into a complete three-down edge defender. His elite get-off and bend profile perfectly for today's pass-happy NFL, where his ability to threaten the edge will command attention from day one. Smart defensive coordinators will initially deploy him in obvious passing situations while developing his run defense, similar to how Brian Burns was used early in his career. The team that drafts Pearce will be getting a scheme-versatile rusher who can excel in both odd and even fronts. His skill set particularly suits aggressive 3-4 schemes where he can be moved around pre-snap and unleashed from wider alignments. While he'll need to add functional strength to become a complete edge defender, his current pass-rush toolkit and room for physical development make him a potential cornerstone piece for any defense seeking their next alpha rusher. Pro offenses will force Pearce to develop quickly against the run, but his combination of length, explosiveness, and technical refinement suggest he's capable of making the necessary adjustments. His elite athletic traits and proven production against SEC competition point toward a high-ceiling prospect who could emerge as one of the league's premier young pass rushers by his second season. Expect him to make an immediate impact as a designated pass rusher while growing into an every-down force as his frame fills out.

Background

A Charlotte native who emerged as Tennessee's premier pass rusher, Pearce's meteoric rise from four-star recruit to SEC terrorizer speaks volumes about his development. After earning playing time as a true freshman in 2022, he exploded onto the scene in 2023 with 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, establishing himself as one of college football's most feared edge defenders. The former Chambers High School standout brought his disruptive style to Knoxville and never looked back, racking up 19.5 career sacks while consistently drawing double teams and forcing offenses to scheme away from his side. What makes Pearce's ascent even more impressive is his rapid technical growth. Despite being relatively raw coming out of high school, he quickly mastered Tennessee's LEO position, becoming equally comfortable rushing from both two and three-point stances. His performance in the 2024 Citrus Bowl against Iowa - including a momentum-shifting pick-six - showcased his playmaking ability on the biggest stage. That game proved to be a springboard into a dominant 2024 campaign where he registered 11 TFLs and 7.5 sacks despite constant attention from opposing offenses. The 6'5", 243-pound edge defender brings a rare combination of length and explosiveness to the field. His 4.47 speed in the forty-yard dash puts him in elite company, while his frame suggests room for additional muscle without sacrificing his trademark burst. Beyond the measurables, Pearce's game film reveals a natural pass rusher with an advanced understanding of leverage and angles, traits that helped him record over 110 quarterback pressures during his collegiate career.

Scouting Report

Pros

Pearce displays elite first-step explosion off the edge that forces tackles to bail out of their stance, creating immediate advantages in pass rush situations. He possesses remarkable bend and ankle flexion when turning the corner, consistently getting hip-to-hip with tackles before reducing his surface area to flatten to the QB. Pearce demonstrates advanced hand usage for his experience level, particularly with his signature rip move that pairs perfectly with his speed rush. He shows natural instincts as a pass rusher, setting up tackles with subtle stance variations and timing jumps that create pre-snap advantages. He exhibits excellent spatial awareness when working line games, maintaining rush integrity while seamlessly exchanging gaps with teammates. Pearce brings devastating closing speed to finish plays, routinely turning pressures into sacks once he breaks containment. He flashes impressive change of direction ability when countering inside, forcing tackles to respect his two-way go and his high football IQ allows him to diagnose screen plays and adjust his rush path accordingly.

Cons

Pearce currently lacks ideal play strength at the point of attack, sometimes getting displaced against more powerful offensive tackles in the run game. He shows some inconsistency maintaining leverage when teams run directly at him, particularly against gap schemes with pulling guards. He can get too focused on rushing upfield, occasionally creating escape lanes for mobile quarterbacks by losing containment responsibilities. Pearce needs to develop a more reliable counter move when his initial rush is stalled, currently too reliant on pure speed to win and must improve ability to stack and shed quickly against longer offensive tackles who can get their hands on him first.

Career Honors

• 2024 Bednarik Award Semifinalist
• 2024 Lombardi Award Semifinalist
• 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
• 2024 All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
• 2024 All-SEC Second Team (AP)
• SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Florida, 10/14/24; vs. Texas A&M, 10/16/23; vs. South Carolina, 10/2/23)
• Reese's Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week (vs. Florida, 10/14/24)
• 2023 All-SEC First Team (AP, Coaches)

High School

A five-star defensive line prospect out of Charlotte, North Carolina, Pearce was a standout player at Chambers High School. Rated the No. 11 player in the 2022 class and the top player from North Carolina by On3.com, he was also a four-star prospect by 247Sports.com and Rivals.com. He was selected to the 2021 Carolina Bowl All-Star Game and earned second-team All-State selection by HighSchoolOT.com as a junior in 2020. Pearce helped lead Chambers High School to four consecutive North Carolina Class 4A State Championship games, including back-to-back state titles in 2019 and 2020. As a senior, he turned heads with an impressive stat line of 14.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two safeties, and two interceptions. He chose Tennessee over 18 other offers, including 13 from Power 5 schools, and was coached by Glenwood Ferebee, a former player at Liberty and offensive coordinator at Howard.

Personal

James Cecil Pearce Jr. was born on Oct. 12, 2003. He is currently majoring in sociology at Tennessee. Fans can follow his journey on social media via his Twitter handle @JamesPearceJr10 and Instagram handle @tenn.jamess.