Pearce has not (Publicly) Declared - It's official

[Hulavol]

People always say “he could benefit from another year.”
Look at what just happened to McCoy.

The best thing is to get drafted and get as close to that second contract as you can as fast as possible- before something breaks.

Every day you step on to that field, you are risking your grandkids not having to worry about money.

If they are good enough to get first round money, there isn’t enough upside in staying another year to justify the risk.

Proud of James !!!

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

Would be great to have him back, but surely he’d be a 1st round take…right?

 

[CAVPUT]

Would be great to have him back, but surely he’d be a 1st round take…right?

I've questioned how the NFL sees him. He's a speed rusher, but has he developed his game to that level? Or is he a one trick pony...speed and timing the snap?

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Probably not a popular opinion, and definitely goes against my selfish wishes…..but……


James, thank you for giving your all! You’re a VFL. You represented well. Now go get paid for real and excel at the highest level of the sport. Go try your hand at etching your name in NFL history. And good luck to you! Go Vols!

Why isn’t this a popular opinion? Anyone with a lick of sense knew he was going, and no one should fault a first round pick for staying at UT for 3 years and leaving for the draft.

 

[Boston Vol]

Would be great to have him back, but surely he’d be a 1st round take…right?

Yes, right now he’s being projected anywhere from 15-25. He’s too talented to fall out of the first round.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

I've questioned how the NFL sees him. He's a speed rusher, but has he developed his game to that level? Or is he a one trick pony...speed and timing the snap?

The NFL sees an uber-athletic pass rusher with great length and quickness and a frame that can easily add good weight. They also see a guy with really good production the past two years and a guy whose advanced metrics are better than his counting stats.

If he had 7 sacks as a sophomore and 10 as a junior instead of vice versa, none of you thinking he should come back or questioning what the NFL thinks of him would be saying this. Ezekiel Ansah was a number 5 pick with fewer career sacks than Pierce had this past year. Clowney went number 1 overall after a season where he had just 3 sacks.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

This AM on VolReport.
========================================
After three years with Tennessee, star LEO James Pearce Jr. is headed to the NFL.

He made the announcement on Instagram that he will forgo is final season of college eligibility to enter the NFL Draft.

He is widely considered a first-round pick in mock drafts.

 

[Ovol]

Sack numbers go down if you are held every damn play.

 

[hog88]

Ge would make more next yr in college than a 3 yr contract as a late first or second rs. Pick

His signing bonus would be more than any NIL deal he would get.

 

[VolPack22]

Sack numbers go down if you are held every damn play.

Or blocked in the back 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

 

[miket4god]

His signing bonus would be more than any NIL deal he would get.

Yup, not even close.

 

[DonDiego]

To James Pierce, Jr...please consider the following...

(a) as long as you are in college, you are a big fish. Once you hit the league, there are way many more studs as good and better than you
(b) NIL and player compensation is amazing...it's not like you will be a starving college student athlete
(c) college is way more fun than 'the real world'
(d) college stadiums, Saturday's, atmosphere (especially at Neyland) are way better than 90% of NFL venues and Sunday's
(e) wouldn't you like to relax, recover, and just watch film on Sunday's? see, you get an extra day each week (don't do the math or you will figure out the lie here)

Considering staying for one more year. You won't regret it.

That oughta do it. Pretty sure he's staying now.

 

[volbound1700]

As a Vols fan, I would love for Pearce to stay, but for his own sake, he should go.

Still, him staying, says a lot about confidence for next year.

 

[CAVPUT]

That oughta do it. Pretty sure he's staying now.

Well played.

 

[BigBadVol]

Declared for the draft. Thanks JP for being a VOL!

 

[volanatic]

Why isn’t this a popular opinion? Anyone with a lick of sense knew he was going, and no one should fault a first round pick for staying at UT for 3 years and leaving for the draft.

Oh I mainly just mean within the confines of Vol fandom. Of course a conversation about what he “should do” would yield that answer from all level headed types. But it’s also very popular opinion to say “selfishly I wish he could play another year”.

 

[volanatic]

Also just to clarify, I never implied that he should stay. He absolutely should go.

 

[#1fulmerite]

Vols DE Pearce forgoes final season for NFL draft

Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr., a standout pass rusher during the past two seasons, has declared for the 2025 draft.

www.espn.com

It’s official.

 

[rocytop2624]

He needs to come back and play another year, he mostly disappeared last year in a lot of the games other than making a play or 2 and then nothing. I really can’t see how his draft stock could be that strong this year. He needs to play more consistent.

He was held or doubled.

 

[casual-observer]

That oughta do it. Pretty sure he's staying now.

Well, shoot. Sorry guys, I guess I convinced him otherwise. I need to work on my word-smithing, sales guy skills. I'm a crappy recruiter.

 

[sjt18]

People always say “he could benefit from another year.”
Look at what just happened to McCoy.

The best thing is to get drafted and get as close to that second contract as you can as fast as possible- before something breaks.

Every day you step on to that field, you are risking your grandkids not having to worry about money.

If they are good enough to get first round money, there isn’t enough upside in staying another year to justify the risk.

Proud of James !!!

And... look what happened to Heath Shuler. Another year might have made a big difference for him. We just don't know. We do know that it led to him being drafted into a messed up franchise and eventually landing in NOLA where he tried to play through an injury and destroyed his foot.

We just don't know the future. It is a tough call for these guys.

 

[dillyo51]

Thank you JP. Much success for you at the next level!

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

And... look what happened to Heath Shuler. Another year might have made a big difference for him. We just don't know. We do know that it led to him being drafted into a messed up franchise and eventually landing in NOLA where he tried to play through an injury and destroyed his foot.

We just don't know the future. It is a tough call for these guys.

Can't compare the transition of a DE/OLB to the NFL with the transition to the hardest position in the NFL.

 

[papatomany]

Sack numbers go down if you are held every damn play.

Not if your name is Reggie White

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

And... look what happened to Heath Shuler. Another year might have made a big difference for him. We just don't know. We do know that it led to him being drafted into a messed up franchise and eventually landing in NOLA where he tried to play through an injury and destroyed his foot.

We just don't know the future. It is a tough call for these guys.

At one point it was reported the damage he sustained was going to cost him normal mobility. Any updates on his later in life status?

I did enjoy hearing him on Vol Network I think it was, declaring the decision for Navy to VOLS was a good one. Very classy handling of that deal.