James Pearce Jr., an edge rusher for Tennessee football, is among the best players in college football this year. In ESPN’s most recent 2025 NFL Mock Draft, he is still ranked in the top five and has been projected as high as the first overall draft pick.
In his updated 2025 mock draft, NFL Draft Analyst Matt Miller projects the Vols edge rusher to select in the in-state round of the following year’s draft.
The Tennessee Titans are predicted by Miller to select Pearce with the fourth overall pick. As the first week of the 2024 season approaches, this prediction about the Titans’ season in year two of the Will Levis era and the excitement surrounding Pearce is telling.
“This is a prove-it season for quarterback Will Levis as a second-year starter, but the early returns were good enough that we can forget about quarterbacks at the top of the draft for now,” writes Miller. Alternatively, the Titans might acquire an in-state prospect who is my preseason No. 1 overall pick. Pearce, who is 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, has exceptional quickness around the edge; in the previous season, he picked up 9.5 sacks. Last season, he also demonstrated his versatility with a 52-yard pick-six. Pearce would be Harold Landry III’s immediate opponent.”
Prior to the 2024 season, Pearce is the only Volt expected to be selected in the first round of the following year’s draft. This year, Tennessee’s key players will include a large number of seniors and players eligible for the draft.
Throughout the season, the Vols may also see players like John Campbell, Cooper Mays, Keenan Pili, and Dont’e Thornton Jr. rise up the draft boards.
Will the Vols be selecting again in the first round of the draft the following year? Tennessee’s season opens in Neyland Stadium on August 31 against Chattanooga. The SEC opener is scheduled for September 21 at Oklahoma.
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