The offseason has officially begun for the Tennessee Volunteers following their loss to Ohio State in the playoffs, and with it comes the first wave of NFL draft declarations. The latest Volunteer to announce his decision to forgo his senior season is edge rusher James Pearce, who is now set to take his talents to the professional level.
Pearce had an outstanding career at Tennessee, leaving behind a legacy of dominant play. Over three seasons, the 6’4″, 265-pound edge rusher recorded 19.5 sacks, 30 tackles for loss, and 71 total tackles. He was named first-team All-SEC in both 2023 and 2024 by the league’s coaches and earned first-team honors from the Associated Press in 2023. Heading into 2024, Pearce was already considered a potential top-10 pick, and it’s expected that he will be selected in the top-15 of the first round.
A former five-star recruit, Pearce lived up to the hype after coming to Tennessee. ESPN had him ranked as the No. 1 player in college football for the 2024 season, and his performance this year further solidified his draft stock. He finished the season with 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 38 total tackles, further demonstrating his readiness for the NFL. As he prepares for the next step in his career, Pearce looks poised to make an immediate impact at the professional level.
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