On Thursday, February 27, defensive linemen and linebackers took center stage at the NFL scouting combine, showcasing their athletic talents to NFL scouts with hopes of boosting their draft prospects. Among them, one player truly stood out.
James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee caught everyone’s attention at Lucas Oil Stadium that day. At just 21, this young defensive lineman clocked an impressive 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash, the quickest time recorded by any defensive lineman this year. This performance certainly didn’t go unnoticed and likely gave his draft prospects a significant boost.
In an electrifying display, James Pearce Jr. left the crowd in awe with his 4.47-second 40-yard dash.
After spending three seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers, Pearce Jr. declared for the draft following his 2024 season. He entered the collegiate arena as the 11th-ranked player in the class of 2022. Throughout his college career, he played in 39 games and racked up an impressive 19.5 career sacks. Leading the SEC with ten sacks in 2023, he posted a team-high 7.5 sacks in 2024.
Heading into the scouting combine, Pearce Jr. was generally viewed as a potential late first-round pick. On Thursday, he ran two 40-yard dashes. His initial time of 4.50 seconds was quickly overshadowed by his second sprint, clocking in at 4.47 seconds. This feat made him the only defensive lineman to achieve a sub-4.5-second time in the event. By doing so, he managed to distinguish himself as an elite prospect. Now, scouts across the league are taking a closer look, considering him a potential top-12 pick in the upcoming draft.
Pearce Jr.’s remarkable 4.47-second dash ranks as the eighth fastest in the combine’s history for a defensive lineman. This achievement puts him in esteemed company, alongside former Tennessee Volunteer Byron Young, who ran an incredible 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the 2023 combine, marking the second-fastest ever for that position. With his performance, James Pearce Jr. has firmly placed himself among the top prospects, substantially upping his draft value and setting the stage for a potential top-12 pick.
