Dane Brugler's The Beast 2025

[*Synric*]

Dane does mention something about James Pearce Jr.

Quote:BACKGROUND: James Pearce Jr. was raised in the Charlotte, N.C., area and started playing football in youth leagues. He grew up a fan of Cam Newton and played mostly of f ense until switching to the defensive side of the ball in middle school. Pearce attended Zebulon B. Vance High, which was renamed Julius L. Chambers High before his senior year. After the program won the 4AA state title in 2019, Pearce it to a 10-1 record as a junior and another state championship — he had a pair of sacks in the title game win over Rolesville. As a 210-pound senior, Pearce logged snaps at nose tackle, edge rusher, linebacker and safety, and he posted his most productive season (28.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and three defensive touchdowns, including a strip sack in the playof f semifinals). He helped Chambers return to the 4AA state title game in 2021, where it fell short against Cardinal Gibbons. Pearce earned all-conference honors and was selected to the 2021 Carolina Bowl All-Star Game. He also played basketball in high school.

A four-star recruit, Pearce was the 21st-ranked edge rusher in the 2022 recruiting class and the No. 5 recruit in North Carolina. A late bloomer on the recruiting trail, he received his first scholarship of f er as a junior from Charlotte (March 2021). Pearce added of f ers in the following weeks from Louisville, Missouri, Oklahoma, Syracuse and UCF. Several more SEC programs entered the mix during Pearce's senior year, including Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Somewhat unceremoniously, Pearce signed with the Volunteers and was the top-ranked recruit in head coach Josh Heupel's 2022 class. He was a pescetarian over his first two seasons at Tennessee. After three years, Pearce skipped his senior season and entered the NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS:
● Tall, athletic build and long arms
● Explosive first step with fast hands and feet to escape blocks
● Gains ground in a hurry to beat tackles to corner
● Chop/rip hands are heavy and help pry open blocker's shoulder
● Rushes to depth of the pocket and works back toward the ball
● Converts speed to power because of immediate acceleration, regardless of the angle
● Shows basic understanding of steps to af f ect the tackle and create two-way go opportunities
● Downhill speed tests reaction quickness of interior blockers guarding A-gap
● Shows general idea of how to use hands in run game
● Productive — ranks top 10 in school history with 19.5 career sacks  

WEAKNESSES:
● Lean, leggy player but has inconsistent bend at top of rush
● Tight through hips, limiting smoothness of redirects
● Fly-by rusher — misses plays in backfield because he's out of control
● Always looking to time up snap, which will backfire at times (flagged for of f sides five times in 2024)
● Pad level is inconsistent and gets him in trouble in run game
● Solid play strength but can be neutralized by powerful blockers who cinch him up
● Streaky lock-out and tardy getting of f blocks to influence the play
● Arrested on traf f i c charges (speeding, driving on suspended license, failure to present insurance) after a stop (Dec. 2023); all charges later dismissed
● Interview process will be crucial (NFL scout: "I want to be convinced that he loves this.")

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Tennessee, Pearce played the LEO position in defensive coordinator Tim Banks' scheme, primarily lining up out wide. Despite being in and out of the lineup (35.5 defensive snaps per game in 2023; 35.7 in 2024), he led the Vols in sacks and tackles for loss as both a sophomore and junior. His 107 pressures over the past two seasons ranked No. 1 in the SEC (No. 6 in the FBS).

Although not a technician, Pearce is a fast, linear athlete who can win races to the edge or collapse the pocket with force behind his extended, upward levers (23 percent pass rush win rate in 2024, second best in the FBS). He was steady with his ef f ort against the run in college, but more will be needed of him to hold up against NFL competition. Overall, Pearce is upright and frenetic in his play style, but his blend of explosiveness and power creates consistent disruption as a pass rusher. He shows promise in the run game, too. If he works to maximize his talent, he will be a productive pro.

GRADE: 2nd round (No. 36 overall)