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Tennessee football watched James Pearce Jr. thrash the trenches during the Volunteers’ College Football Playoff run. The Vols learned Wednesday night what his 2025 destination will be between Knoxville or the NFL Draft.

The Tennessee Volunteers watched James Pearce go from former four-star talent to a projected first rounder. The latest Mock Drafts have him inside the top-15.

James Pearce, a 6-foot-5, 243-pounder, is among the top pass rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is as a projected first-round pick.

Dylan Sampson had been the lone junior from Tennessee's 2024 roster to leave the Volunteers early for the NFL. Then the obvious happened.

Tennessee junior defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. declared for the 2025 NFL draft on Wednesday. He will forgo his senior season in 2025 with the Vols. Pearce Jr. is projected as a first-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - As expected, James Pearce’s days as a Volunteer are over announcing that he will pass up his senior season and enter the NFL Draft where he’s expected to be a 1st round pick.

Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced Wednesday. VFL🧡 pic.twitter.com/052zn6diUn— JCP (@JamesPearceJr10) January 16, 2025 The 21-year-old is projected to be a first-round pick and one of the top pass-rushers to come off the board.