{"id":288824,"date":"2025-08-15T01:01:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T01:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/288824\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T01:01:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T01:01:09","slug":"vfl-james-pearce-jr-takes-quick-dig-at-sec-rival-during-nfl-training-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/288824\/","title":{"rendered":"VFL James Pearce Jr. Takes Quick Dig at SEC Rival During NFL Training Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"James<\/p>\n

<\/a>Former Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. with the Atlanta Falcons. (Photo via @Atlanta Falcons on X)<\/p>\n

Former Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. didn\u2019t have to travel too far to join up with the Atlanta Falcons after being taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Just about 213 miles, to be exact. It\u2019s also close to his hometown of Charlotte, NC.<\/p>\n

As Pearce gears up for his rookie season with the Falcons, he spent a few minutes speaking with the media on Wednesday. The interview session came during a joint practice with the Tennessee Titans.<\/p>\n

After being asked a question about his fit with the Falcons and being close to the area where he\u2019s played all his football so far, the former Vol got in a quick little jab at one of Tennessee\u2019s border rivals.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, for sure,\u201d Pearce said about his fit in Atlanta<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m a down south kid, for sure. So I feel at home\u2026 Like I said, I\u2019m a down south kid. Being here in Georgia, I ain\u2019t like the Georgia Bulldogs that much, but other than that, you know what I\u2019m saying, I\u2019m back in my dad\u2019s hometown. Get to play for the A. It\u2019s a great thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing here in Georgia, I didn\u2019t like the Georgia Bulldogs that much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 VFL James Pearce Jr. \ud83e\udd23 pic.twitter.com\/xyzKmUpjMc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Vol Report (@AllVolReport) August 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

More From RTI:\u00a0SEC Opponent Having \u2018White Out\u2019 When Tennessee Football Comes to Town This Season<\/a><\/p>\n

Pearce was selected with the 26th overall pick by the Falcons in the 2025 draft as a tool to revamp Atlanta\u2019s pass rush. He\u2019s been successful at showing off his talents during preseason camp so far, even drawing the praise of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons\u2019 second-year quarterback referred to Pearce as a \u201cballer\u201d who is \u201cgoing to make a lot of plays for us,\u201d according to ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pearce\u2019s intensity has been on full display with the Falcons this summer, which has caused some unexpected headlines. In the third practice of camp, he got into a scuffle with Falcons left guard Matthew Bergeon, which led to some pushing and shoving between the offense and the defense. While the beef was squashed by the end of practice, Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said that it was alright because of the culture that the team is trying to build before the season \u2013 one that doesn\u2019t back down.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying to develop a culture \u2014 a style of play, for sure \u2014 and part of that is the violence with which we play and aggression, the urgency and all that,\u201d Ulbrich said about the scuffle, via ESPN<\/a>. \u201cToday, at times, it went a little too far, and we\u2019ve got to learn how to manage that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearce played 18 defensive snaps in the Falcons\u2019 first preseason game against the Lions last week, but did not record any stats. Part of that was because of the way that Detroit attacked the protection on Pearce with pressure shifts, double teams, or runs away from his side of the ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s (the opponent\u2019s) job to be able to slow down the game a little bit, be able to help themselves,\u201d Pearce said, via the Falcons team website<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s just what\u2019s going on in the league, slowing down the game, especially since edge rushers can be so impactful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearce and the Falcons will host the Tennessee Titans in NFL preseason action on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. ET on the NFL Network.<\/p>\n

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