James Pearce Jr.
James Pearce Jr.
Disrupts the pocket from the interior. Third year in the Tennessee defensive front, same address the whole way. He has been named All-SEC two seasons running, most recently in 2024. The receipt: 9 tackles, 2 TFL against Arkansas — Week 6, 2024.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
How it ended
Three seasons at Tennessee, 19 sacks — drafted at #26 overall by Atlanta.
Career Arc
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2024)
All-SEC
Coaching Lineage · 2022–2024
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Josh Heupel.
Where He Ended Up · NFL
AtlantaEntering 2nd NFL season
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 3 · RecognizedR09 · All-Conference HM / 2nd team
All-Conference HM / 2nd team. Conference recognition has started.
Recognition
Production
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2024)
All-SEC
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 8 · 2024
W 24–17
vs Alabama
3 TOT · 2 SOLO · 1 SACKS
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 7 at home.
How he plays
Play style
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
3-Tech Penetrator
Disruptive interior rusher who lives in the backfield.
His 2024 production profile sits closest to Nate Matlack’s 2021 season.
Matches Nate on
Differs from Nate on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Will Anderson Jr.'s junior season at Alabama (2022).
Matches Will on