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B_doggman47
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Here is #2 on our list. We watched a lot of games and tape on this guy and we were very impressed by his explosiveness, bens and speed. He will be dynamo for some team's defense. Someone on this thread posted said that Pearce had no bend or explosiveness. Well, we went back and looked at his games and tape from 2022 to 2024 and we saw the explosiveness coming off the line and good bend going around offensive tackles. After earning playing time as a true freshman in 2022, he exploded onto the scene in 2023 with 10 sacks and 14.5 TFL's. He established himself as one of college football's most feared edge defenders. What made 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. We watched his performance in the 2024 Citrus Bowl against Iowa. He had a momentum changing pick-six, showing his playmaking ability on the biggest stage. That game proved to be a springboard into a dominant 2024 season where he registered 11 TFL's and 7.5 sacks despite constant attention from opposing offenses. The 6'5"/245# edge defender brings a rare combination of length and explosiveness to the field. Pearce's 4.47/40 time puts him in elite company, Vertical- 31", Broad Jump- 10'2.5" and 10 yd. split- 1.56. He is predicted to go anywhere from 8-14 in first round. His frame suggests room for additional muscle without sacrificing his trademark burst. Beyond measurables, Pearce's game film reveals a natural pass rusher with an advanced understanding of leverage and angles, those are the traits that helped him record over 110 QB pressures during his collegiate career.
#2- James Pearce Jr.- (Edge/OLB) Tennessee (6'5"/245#)
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, we saw all of this from the games and film we watched. He consistently gets hip-to-hip with offensive 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 also 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. He has a high football IQ with the ability to diagnose screen plays and adjust his rush path accordingly.
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 at times get too focused on rushing upfield, occasionally creating escape lanes for mobile QB's by losing containment responsibilities. Pearce needs to develop a more reliable counter move when his initial rush is stalled, he is currently too dependent on pure speed to win. He must improve his ability to stack and shed quickly against longer offensive tackles who can get their hands on him first.
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.
The team that drafts Pearce will be getting a scheme versatile rusher who can excel in both odd and even fronts. His skillset particularly suits aggressive 3-4 schemes where he can be moved around pre-snap and unleash from wider alignments. While Pearce will 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 Pearce to make an immediate impact as a designated pass rusher while growing into an every-down force as his frame fills out.
#2- James Pearce Jr.- (Edge/OLB) Tennessee (6'5"/245#)
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, we saw all of this from the games and film we watched. He consistently gets hip-to-hip with offensive 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 also 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. He has a high football IQ with the ability to diagnose screen plays and adjust his rush path accordingly.
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 at times get too focused on rushing upfield, occasionally creating escape lanes for mobile QB's by losing containment responsibilities. Pearce needs to develop a more reliable counter move when his initial rush is stalled, he is currently too dependent on pure speed to win. He must improve his ability to stack and shed quickly against longer offensive tackles who can get their hands on him first.
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.
The team that drafts Pearce will be getting a scheme versatile rusher who can excel in both odd and even fronts. His skillset particularly suits aggressive 3-4 schemes where he can be moved around pre-snap and unleash from wider alignments. While Pearce will 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 Pearce to make an immediate impact as a designated pass rusher while growing into an every-down force as his frame fills out.
