Six Tennessee football players invited to the NFL Combine
NFL Draft season is quickly approaching, and Josh Heupel is looking to send a few more Tennessee football players to the NFL in hopes that they will make an immediate impact on their new team.
There have been several Vols that have become immediate impact players in the league over the past few years, and this year could be no different with the group of players headlining Tennessee’s NFL Draft class.
Tennessee will send six players to the NFL Draft Combine this year. The Vols announced on social media that Omarr Norman-Lott, James Pearce Jr., Elijah Simmons, Bru McCoy, Dylan Sampson, and Dont’e Thornton Jr. all received invites to this year’s combine.
The Vols’ six combine invites tie them for 12th in the SEC. Georgia and Texas have the most invites in the SEC, with 14 each, while Ohio State has the most nationally, with 15 invites.
Despite the small number of invites compared to its competitors, the group of six from Rocky Top could be immediate impact players no matter where they are drafted.
Pearce and Sampson have been anchors for Tennessee and have plenty of talent to take off in the NFL and show their playmaking abilities. Norman-Lott and Simmons can also be wrecking balls on the defensive line, no matter where they land.
The NFL Draft Combine will start February 27 and go through March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. These players will look to cement themselves as projected first-round draft picks with Pearce as we approach the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24.
James Pearce Jr. is poised to be one of the top defensive prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. The former Tennessee Volunteers edge rusher has established himself as a dominant force in college football over the past two seasons, showcasing elite pass-rushing skills and game-changing playmaking ability.
Physical Attributes
Standing at 6’5″ and weighing 243 pounds, Pearce possesses an ideal frame for an NFL edge defender. He combines his impressive stature with exceptional athleticism, boasting a reported 4.49-second 40-yard dash time. This rare blend of size and speed makes him a prototypical modern NFL pass rusher.
College Production
After a quiet freshman season in 2022, Pearce exploded onto the scene in 2023 with a breakout sophomore campaign. He recorded 27 tackles, 10 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and an interception returned for a touchdown. Pearce followed up his stellar 2023 season with another strong performance in 2024, tallying 38 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and consistently pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
