James Pearce Jr. is one of the best defensive players on the 2025 NFL Draft board, but he isn't getting the respect he deserves from the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" after it released its 2025 NFL Draft Big Board of the top 25 draft prospects for the upcoming draft.
The big board, written by Mel Kiper Jr., was updated after the most recent College Football Playoff quarterfinal round. Tennessee football's premier edge-rusher barely makes the list.
Unsurprisingly, two-way player Travis Hunter out of Colorado is the No. 1 player listed in this year's draft. He won the Heisman trophy along with several other awards in his final season at Colorado and will be a top pick in this Spring's draft.
As for Pearce, he comes in as the No. 3 OLB on Kiper's board behind Penn State's Abdul Carter and Georgia's Mykel Williams.
Mel Kiper Jr. has James Pearce Jr. as the No. 3 OLB prospect in the country
"Tennessee spent the early part of the season rolling its opponents, limiting Pearce to 56 snaps over the team's first three games," Kiper wrote. "But Pearce -- who had 10 sacks in 2023 -- saw plenty of action the rest of the way. I see a lot of speed off the edge, and he does a nice job mixing up his pass-rush moves to keep offensive tackles on their heels. Pearce could still add weight to his frame. But even at 243 pounds, he shows the ability to win with power. And when asked to help in run defense, he has the quickness to make plays in lateral pursuit."
Pearce has consistently been one of the best players on the field, regardless of the two teams on the field. He finished the year with 45 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 45 pressures, 14.5 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.
Despite the numbers not being other-worldly, his presence opened the door for other players to make tackles and get to the quarterback all season long. His stats aren't the best in the country, but he could definitely be the best player at his position in this draft class if drafted to the right franchise.
Dylan Sampson and Omarr Norman-Lott also made the top ten of their respected positions. Sampson is the No. 10 running back of the 2025 class, while Norman-Lott is the No. 10 defensive tackle.