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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