How Tennessee EDGE James Pearce can be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

Since 2014, every top overall selection has been either a QB or a DE. Of the three defensive ends taken, Jadeveon Clowney was a long-time projection for that spot, and Myles Garrett did not exactly surprise by being No. 1 overall. Travon Walker, on the other hand, was not heavily talked about. 

Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr is seen as the consensus No. 1 overall prospect heading into the 2024 college football season, but he is far from the lock Clowney was considered to be. Without a doubt, though, he is one of the premier players to track when it comes to considering candidates for the top selection.

As a recruit, Pearce signed with Tennessee over Georgia on Early National Signing Day in December 2021. The Charlotte, NC product was rated as a five-star by On3 – making a leap on from No. 57 in their penultimate rankings to No. 11 overall after a strong showing in his senior season. Both Rivals and 247Sports had him as a four-star outside the top 150, and ESPN had him as all the way down as a 3 star prospect and No. 40 EDGE in the class. The primary knock against him coming out of high school was that he weighed only 220 pounds

Pearce flashed some as a freshman, in which he played all 13 games, but he really came on as a sophomore with 9.5 sacks. While he slowed slightly down the stretch, Pearce accumulated seven sacks in his first six games last season. His performance made him a First Team All-SEC Selection – a distinction he has been picked for again. His performance against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl was dominant, and he’s amassed 58 pressures over the course of his career.

Pearce has elite length, speed, and burst required for a natural pass rusher. Pearce is able to play standing up or put his hand in the dirt. As is required in today’s game, he is capable of dropping back in coverage and hauled in multiple pick-sixes in high school and one in the Citrus Bowl last season. However, this is a prospect that needs to be sent after the QB regularly. 

Even for his skill set, Pearce is a little light. Outside of what he produces on the field, his measurables at the Combine will prove critical. The first edge rusher off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft was No. 15 overall with Laiatu Latu. At the same height, he came in 16 pounds heavier and then ran a 4.64. For Pearce to make a strong case for No. 1 overall, he will need to be in the 250s and run in the 4.5s. This should be doable. On top of that, however, he will be watched closely with Tennessee travels to Oklahoma (9/21) and Georgia (11/16) as well as when the Vols host Florida and Alabama back-to-back (10/12 and 10/19). While recent history suggests sack numbers will factor less than his Combine performance, look for Pearce to push for double digits. Latu (13) and Alabama’s Dallas Turner (10) were able to accomplish the feat last season.