“Fast, athletic, IQ strong, IQ high, knowing where the ball is going to end up,” Pearce listed as some of those qualities. “Bringing a lot, making plays on the field.”
At 6-5, 243 pounds, Pearce is lanky. He understands that often translates to a lack of power on the field, and that will be the presumption where teams are concerned. Pearce, for his part, is not concerned.
“People don’t think I got (power),” Pearce noted. “Probably just because of what my weight says, statistically, but there’s a lot of power behind this. (Just) turn the speed into power.
“Just to set up the rushes I want, set up the rushes I want, see how I can get home, see what set the O-tackle gives me.”
It’s the kind of trait you can see on tape or even more so in person. The Panthers are already monitoring the first and are excited to see the latter. And in such a pass-rush rich class, having an option so close to home remains intriguing.
“A dynamic player, great size, balanced athlete, motor,” head coach Dave Canales said Tuesday of Pearce. “He really, his big plays are special, so something that we have to consider and look at. For him to be this close to home, and Tennessee not being very far away as well, somebody that we’re going to definitely look at closely.”