Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) fumbles the ball as Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) trails him, during a football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.
James Pearce Jr. DE/EDGE Tennessee | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
James Pearce Jr. DE/EDGE Tennessee
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 01/10/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.49 seconds (99%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 01/10/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.49 seconds (99%*) | |
|
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
|
| Overall Rating: | 89.5 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
81% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
|
73% |
| Pass Rush: |
|
100% |
| Run Defense: |
|
94% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Mid
Overall Rank:
#11
Position rank:
#4
|
||
| College Games: 32 College Snaps: 987 | ||
ESPN RATING: 79/100
|
||
247 RATING: 91/100
|
||
|
RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
|
||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chop Robinson - Penn State |
|
87% |
| Jaelan Phillips - Miami |
|
83% |
| Laiatu Latu - UCLA |
|
80% |
Draft Profile: Bio
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 4.49 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: Strengths
- Displays elite first-step explosion off the edge that forces tackles to bail out of their stance, creating immediate advantages in pass rush situations
- 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
- Demonstrates advanced hand usage for his experience level, particularly with his signature rip move that pairs perfectly with his speed rush
- Shows natural instincts as a pass rusher, setting up tackles with subtle stance variations and timing jumps that create pre-snap advantages
- Exhibits excellent spatial awareness when working line games, maintaining rush integrity while seamlessly exchanging gaps with teammates
- Brings devastating closing speed to finish plays, routinely turning pressures into sacks once he breaks containment
- Flashes impressive change of direction ability when countering inside, forcing tackles to respect his two-way go
- High football IQ with his ability to diagnose screen plays and adjust his rush path accordingly
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Currently lacks ideal play strength at the point of attack, sometimes getting displaced against more powerful offensive tackles in the run game
- Shows some inconsistency maintaining leverage when teams run directly at him, particularly against gap schemes with pulling guards
- Can get too focused on rushing upfield, occasionally creating escape lanes for mobile quarterbacks by losing containment responsibilities
- Needs to develop a more reliable counter move when his initial rush is stalled, currently too reliant on pure speed to win
- Must improve ability to stack and shed quickly against longer offensive tackles who can get their hands on him first
Scouting Report: Summary
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.
Written By:
Wyatt Brooks (SEC)
How other scouting services rate James Pearce Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
14.7
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
3.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.