Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown made a playful comment about the quick collapse of the pocket in College Football 25, especially on Heisman difficulty, after watching James Pearce Jr.’s impressive 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Pearce, a Tennessee edge rusher, clocked an unofficial 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which many believe solidified his status as a first-round pick. Heading into the combine, Pearce was already ranked as the No. 25 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft by the B/R NFL Scouting Department, and No. 21 by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah.
Bruce Feldman of The Athletic had Pearce ranked No. 14 on his annual Combine Freaks list. Feldman highlighted Pearce’s incredible athleticism, noting how the 6’5″, 243-pound player impressed during his sophomore season. In the Citrus Bowl against Iowa, Pearce reached speeds of 23 mph while scoring a pick-six, marking one of the fastest GPS measurements of the season.
While Pearce’s 40-yard dash time was impressive, those familiar with his athletic profile weren’t too surprised. However, it did feel almost like something out of a video game.
