NFL Draft Notebook: What makes Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce an elite prospect

In this week’s college edition of NFL Draft Notebook, we start by discussing what makes Tennesee’s James Pearce such an elite prospect, especially as a pass rusher. We then highlight five players to watch this weekend, including a running back who has gotten off to a slow start. Finally, we talk about several 2025 NFL Draft prospects seeing their stock rise.

The next great NFL pass rusher

In the 2024 NFL Draft, edge defenders didn’t make an appearance until the 15th pick, when the Indianapolis Colts selected Laiatu Latu. However, expect that to change in the 2025 draft, where we could see at least two defensive ends taken in the top 10. Leading that charge are Penn State's Abdul Carter and Tennessee's James Pearce Jr.

Of the two, Pearce stands out as the more dynamic pass rusher. Last season, Pearce notched 10 sacks and an impressive 52 pressures, despite being on the field for only 246 pass-rushing snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He also ranked third nationally in getting to the quarterback in under 2.5 seconds.

As a pro prospect, Pearce's calling card is his exceptional speed. In fact, he was one of just 15 players to reach 23 MPH on a single play last season, showcasing his game-changing burst. His speed allows him to regularly beat offensive tackles off the snap and consistently turn the corner as a pass rusher.

In addition to his elite burst, Pearce is also the most athletic defensive end in the 2025 NFL Draft. His agility and bend make life difficult for tackles, while his athleticism also shines in coverage, earning him an impressive 88 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus. Scouts will also love his length—standing at 6'5" with a wingspan tailor-made for an NFL defensive end.

Despite these strengths, Pearce isn't without flaws. Weighing in at just 243 pounds, he may struggle to set the edge as a run defender in the NFL. Another concern is his tendency to miss tackles—he missed 50% of his tackle attempts in the first two games of this season, and in 2023, his missed tackle rate was 23.1%. This often stems from playing out of control, but it’s an issue that can be addressed with better discipline.

As Pearce's 2024 season unfolds, several teams are likely keeping a close eye on him. The Arizona Cardinals, who need help with their pass rush after BJ Ojulari's injury, are one likely suitor. The Tennessee Titans, looking to keep the local star in-state while addressing a major need, could also be interested. Finally, the Chicago Bears, still searching for a complement to Montez Sweat, are another team to watch.

Five players to watch in week four

Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State

Expectations were sky-high for Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II heading into the season after he rushed for 1,732 yards last year. However, Gordon has struggled to meet those expectations, being held to under 50 yards in the two games he’s played against FBS competition. His current average of 3.5 yards per carry is a significant drop from the 6.1 yards per carry he posted last season. The Cowboys will need him to return to his dominant form if they hope to upset the 12th-ranked Utah Utes on Saturday.

Tommi Hill, CB, Nebraska

Nebraska cornerback Tommi Hill is emerging as a prospect to watch, with buzz around him as a potential late first-round NFL Draft pick. Hill has impressed this season, shutting down his assignment in two of the three games he’s played. In the third, against Colorado, he earned an 83.5 grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), the highest of any Big Ten defensive back that week. On Friday night, Hill will face another challenge as he tries to contain Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant, who has recorded at least 63 receiving yards in every game this season.

Jacob Dobbs, MLB, James Madison

One of the intriguing aspects of non-conference games is watching Group of Five players compete against top-tier opponents. James Madison linebacker Jacob Dobbs will face a tall task this week as he tries to slow down North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, who is the fourth-leading rusher in the FBS. Hampton is coming off a dominant 210-yard performance, where he averaged 8.4 yards per carry, making Dobbs' role in stopping him crucial.

Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, USC

The weekend's biggest matchup is USC versus Michigan, and a key factor will be whether the Trojans can establish a run game against Michigan's stingy defense, which ranks 14th in the nation, allowing just 70 rushing yards per game. Offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon will be a critical piece in this puzzle as he goes head-to-head with one of the top defensive tackles in college football, Mason Graham.

Danny Stutsman, MLB, Oklahoma

In a top-20 clash between Oklahoma and Tennessee, linebacker Danny Stutsman will play a pivotal role in slowing down the Volunteers' high-powered offense. Tennessee boasts the second-ranked rushing offense in the nation, averaging 353 yards per game. Stutsman, who is averaging 11 tackles per game and has an impressive 91.8 run defense grade from PFF, will need to be at his best to help the Sooners shut down this explosive ground attack.

2025 NFL Draft news and notes

Michigan’s lead back: Although Donovan Edwards may be listed as Michigan's lead back, the best running back on the team is Kalel Mullings. Mullings has been outstanding this season, highlighted by a recent performance where he rushed for 153 yards on just 15 carries and earned Pro Football Focus's highest grade for any running back in week three. The powerful runner has forced 12 missed tackles so far, blending a bruising running style with unexpected agility, making sharp cuts in the open field despite his size. However, to truly catch the attention of NFL scouts, he’ll need to prove himself as a receiver, as he has only caught two passes during his time at Michigan.

Off to a hot start: Another running back who is off to a hot start is UCF’s RJ Harvey, who has rushed for at least 125 yards in every game and is averaging 7.6 yards per carry. His standout performance came against TCU last week, where he rushed for 180 yards, earning him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. What sets him apart is his vision—he consistently finds open lanes and avoids defenders in the open field. If he keeps this up, he could be a solid day three pick in the NFL Draft.

School record: Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton made history last weekend by becoming the first player in school history to start the season with three straight 100-yard games. Two of those performances saw him surpass 150 receiving yards. His early dominance has placed him at the top of the Big Ten in receiving yards with 447, and he’s tied for third nationally with four touchdown catches. As a 6-foot-2 NFL prospect, Felton showcases several impressive traits. His focus is exceptional, particularly when tracking deep passes. He also has a flawless record of no dropped passes this season. Additionally, his ability to make plays after the catch has resulted in 10 missed tackles. If he continues at this pace, a third or fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is within reach.

Moving on Up: Texas center Jake Majors is flying under the radar despite being a four-year starter for the Longhorns. Currently ranked as the 700th overall prospect by NFL Mock Draft Database, he's being vastly underrated. However, after his first two games this season, expect other draft analysts to take notice—especially after his standout performance against Michigan, where he consistently won his matchup with defensive tackle Mason Graham and earned Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honors. Majors' greatest strength as an NFL prospect is his football intelligence, as he routinely gets his team into the right blocking schemes.

Not sold on: A 2025 NFL Draft prospect who might be slightly overrated is Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer. Some outlets, like CBS and the Draft Network, project him as a first-round pick, but I have him graded as a third-round talent. The reason for the lower grade is his limitations as a pass rusher—he lacks the burst and flexibility needed to consistently beat NFL-level tackles off the edge. This explains why he has only recorded one sack this season, which came when Western Michigan mistakenly assigned a tight end to block him. On the positive side, Sawyer is a strong run defender with the power and technique to set the edge effectively at the next level.