Tennessee football 2025 NFL Draft insider projections: Expert previews James Pearce Jr, Bru McCoy, and other Vols
The Volunteers have had varying degrees of success on the field and in the NFL Draft during the three-year tenure of Josh Heupel at Tennessee. The program had a top-10 pick in 2023 when the Chicago Bears selected offensive tackle Darnell Wright. That feat could be duplicated next April.
Tennessee football 2025 NFL Draft preview
James Pearce Jr 2025 NFL Draft projection
Presently it looks like a one-man show for next-level prospects at Tennessee, and that man’s name is James Pearce Jr. The junior is coming off a banner season a year ago in which he posted 10 sacks and 14.5 TFLs. He’s an incredibly athletic pass rusher who can come out of a three-point stance and stand over tackle. Pearce is a quick-twitch athlete who is not only a disruptive force up the field; he can make plays in space as well. He needs to add bulk to his frame and get stronger, yet Pearce has a ton of upside.
Bru McCoy 2025 NFL Draft projection
Bru McCoy is well-liked in many areas of the scouting community, who grade the receiver as a Day 2 prospect. He’s a bigger (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) possession receiver who catches the ball well and wins out for contested throws. McCoy was never fast or a vertical threat, and now he must return from a gruesome ankle injury that limited him to five games last season; the senior suffered a fracture-dislocation of his right ankle that required surgery to repair. His ability to return to form and pass combine medicals will dictate where he’s drafted.
Jalen McMurray 2025 NFL Draft projection
Keep an eye on Jalen McMurray, a transfer from Temple who had a terrific campaign in 2022 before struggling last season. McMurray was considered a mid-round prospect before taking a step back in 2023.
Tennessee football's 2025 NFL Draft projections by Tony Pauline