James Pearce Jr.
{{Short description|American football player (born 2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = James Pearce Jr.
| image = James Pearce Jr Tennessee.png
| alt =
| caption = Pearce with the Tennessee Volunteers in 2024
| current_team = Atlanta Falcons
| number =
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|10|12}}
| birth_place = Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 245
| high_school = Chambers {{nowrap|(Charlotte)}}
| college = Tennessee (2022–2024)
| draftyear = 2025
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 26
| pastteams =
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Unsigned draft pick
| highlights =
| statseason = 2025
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Tackles
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Pass deflections
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = PearJa00
}}
James Cecil Pearce Jr. (born October 12, 2003) is an American professional football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers.
He was picked by the Atlanta Falcons with Pick 26 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Early life
Pearce Jr. attended Julius L. Chambers High School in Charlotte, North Carolina.{{Cite web |last=Fowler |first=Chapel |date=December 15, 2021 |title=NC's top uncommitted football recruit not rushing to sign despite offers from UGA, more |url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2021/12/15/north-carolina-high-school-football-recruiting-2022-james-pearce-georgia-south-carolina-florida/6462066001/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=The Fayetteville Observer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Wertz Jr. |first=Langston |date=December 10, 2021 |title=‘You’re an NFL talent.’ How Chambers High’s James Pearce evolved into an SEC recruit |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article256456506.html |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Charlotte Observer}} As a senior, he had 14.5 sacks and two interceptions. A four-star prospect, he committed to the University of Tennessee to play college football.{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Matt |date=December 15, 2021 |title=Just In: Tennessee Signs Prized Edge Rusher James Pearce |url=https://www.si.com/college/tennessee/recruiting/just-in-tennessee-signs-prized-edge-rusher-james-pearce |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=James Pearce Jr., Tennessee Volunteers, Edge |url=https://247sports.com/player/james-pearce-jr-46114817/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=247Sports |language=en-US}}
College career
As a true freshman at Tennessee in 2022, Pearce Jr. played in all 13 games and had five tackles and two sacks. He returned to Tennessee for his sophomore year in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Paschall |first=David |date=October 3, 2023 |title=Persistent Pearce averaging a sack a game for the Vols |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/oct/03/persistent-pearce-averaging-a-sack-a-game-for-the/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Chattanooga Times Free Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sparks |first=Adam |date=March 25, 2023 |title=Why the next Byron Young for Tennessee football won't get a participation trophy |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2023/03/25/tennessee-football-next-byron-young-james-pearce-joshua-josephs-caleb-herring/70020386007/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |language=en-US}} During the 2023 season, he ranked third in the SEC for sacks and fifth in the SEC regarding tackles for loss.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5 1/4
| weight = 245
| dash = 4.47
| ten split = 1.56
| twenty split = 2.61
| vertical = 31.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 3
| arm span = 32 3/4
| hand span = 10
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/james-pearce-jr./32005045-4127-9289-4a5c-1de3f930dfef |title=James Pearce Jr. Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=February 28, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1057094&DraftYear=2025 |title=James Pearce Jr. College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=February 28, 2025}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|JamesPearceJr10}}
- [https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/james-pearce-jr-/20111 Tennessee Volunteers bio]
{{2025 NFL draft}}
{{FalconsFirstPick}}
{{Atlanta Falcons 2025 NFL draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pearce Jr., James}}
Category:Players of American football from Charlotte, North Carolina
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Tennessee Volunteers football players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
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