Former Tennessee football, and current Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr., is a finalist for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, the league announced on Jan. 22.
Pearce, the No. 26 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, recorded 26 total tackles, 16 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a Falcons team that finished 8-9. He accumulated 10.5 sacks, the most by any rookie since Micah Parsons in 2021.
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The 6-foot-5, 245-pound star joined Falcons teammate, and defensive back, Xavier Watts; New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter; Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger; and Seattle Seahawks defensive back Nick Emmanwori as award finalists. Winners will be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 5.
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Pearce was a four-star defensive line prospect by 247Sports Composite in 2022 out of Charlotte, North Carolina. He played in Tennessee’s 13 games as a freshman and started in three of the Vols’ 13 games in 2023. As a junior in 2024 Pearce was a semifinalist for the Bednarik, Lombardi and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards after racking up 38 total tackles, 23 solo, 13 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks and 10 QB hurries. He ranked 10th in the SEC in both tackles for a loss and sacks in 2024.
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He was the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after earning two straight All SEC honors in 2023 and 2024. He was the 48th first-round pick in Tennessee history.
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: [email protected]
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Former Tennessee DE James Pearce Jr. named NFL Rookie of the Year finalist
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