PFF makes strong statement about Tennessee Vols edge rusher James Pearce
Pro Football Focus recently ranked the top edge rushers in college football for the 2024 season and Tennessee Vols superstar edge rusher James Pearce, as expected, came in at No. 1 on their list. Pearce, who will be a junior this fall, enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, finishing with 10 sacks, 14.5 tackles for […]
Pro Football Focus recently ranked the top edge rushers in college football for the 2024 season and Tennessee Vols superstar edge rusher James Pearce, as expected, came in at No. 1 on their list.
Pearce, who will be a junior this fall, enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, finishing with 10 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, and one interception (which was returned for a touchdown).
PFF thinks Pearce is dominant enough to potentially be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
"With the 2025 NFL Draft looking like it’ll feature a weaker quarterback class, there’s a real chance that Pearce could be the No. 1 overall pick," wrote PFF's Max Chadwick.
From PFF: Pearce became one of the most fearsome pass rushers in college football this past season. The sophomore’s 21.3% pressure rate ranked third among all edge defenders in the country, as did his 92.4 pass-rush grade. Pearce ended the season as the fourth-most-valuable Power Five edge defender, according to PFF’s wins above average metric.
He has freakish explosiveness at 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, and he converts speed to power at an elite level. With the 2025 NFL Draft looking like it’ll feature a weaker quarterback class, there’s a real chance that Pearce could be the No. 1 overall pick.
Tennessee fans better enjoy Pearce in 2024 because there's very little chance he returns to Rocky Top in 2025.
If Tennessee is going to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff this fall, they'll need an elite pass rusher who can wreak havoc on opposing offense. Pearce certainly fits the bill.
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