The NFL has handed former Vol James Pearce Jr. an eight-game suspension for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy, the Atlanta Falcons announced Friday afternoon.
Pearce, who is heading into his second year in the league, was arrested in February after a domestic incident involving his ex-girlfriend and Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson. Jackson played for the Tennessee Lady Vols under Kellie Harper from 2022 to 2024. The arrest happened in Doral, Florida.
Pearce was away from Atlanta during part of OTAs, then rejoined the Falcons for training camp. His suspension will not affect Atlanta’s preseason games, and he becomes eligible for reinstatement on Monday, Nov. 2, the week of the Falcons-Bengals game in Madrid, Spain.
Atlanta selected Pearce with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, finishing with 10.5 sacks and putting himself in the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation. That sack total led the Falcons and was the most by a rookie since Micah Parsons had 13 for the Cowboys in 2021.
According to ESPN, Pearce was charged with three felonies: aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person. A fourth arrest charge of felony aggravated stalking was reduced to a misdemeanor, and a charge of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer was dropped.
He later avoided trial through a one-year diversion program that was approved by a Florida court in the spring. ESPN reported that the charges will be dropped if he “stays out of trouble for the next year, passes random drug tests and remains compliant with a mental health treatment program.” As part of that agreement, he also must stay away from Rickea Jackson.
In Other News...
Former Vols Give Tennessee Fans Plenty To Watch Thursday Night
The NFL preseason slate on Thursday night gives Tennessee fans a familiar kind of viewing guide, with several former Volunteers scattered across six games. Quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Joshua Dobbs headline the list of ex-Vols worth tracking, while rookies Tyre West and Jermod McCoy add a newer layer to the watch list for anyone following how Tennessee talent is settling into the league.
There is still some uncertainty built into the night, though, and not every familiar name is guaranteed to take part. Injury concerns could affect availability for players such as Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays, which means Vols fans may have to keep one eye on the broadcast and another on the pregame updates before knowing exactly who will be on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vol B.J. Edwards Lands An SEC Chance Tennessee Fans Will Notice
B.J. Edwards is getting another shot in the SEC, and it comes with a familiar twist for Tennessee fans who watched him develop before moving on. The former Vols guard has committed to Oklahoma after spending time at Tennessee and SMU, giving him a new home as he prepares for one more college season in Porter Mosers program.
Edwards entered the transfer portal after a Tennessee court ruling opened the door to an extra year of eligibility following changes to NCAA transfer rules, creating the kind of late-career opportunity players rarely get. Oklahoma is heading into its sixth season under Moser, and for Tennessee followers, Edwards latest move is one of those transfer updates that still feels connected to what once was in Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]
Former Vols Get A Big NFL Chance And Titans Fans Will Care
The preseason always has a little extra meaning for Tennessee fans when former Volunteers start turning up across NFL rosters, and this week is no different. Josh Dobbs is back in the mix with the Detroit Lions, while Kamal Hadden and McCallan Castles are among the former Vols getting a look with the Green Bay Packers. It is the kind of late-summer window when a college fan base can scan a roster sheet and find plenty of familiar names.
Titans fans, though, will have the closest eye on the players wearing Tennessee colors again, including Alontae Taylor and Hendon Hooker. The exhibition games offer those former Vols a chance to show where they stand in camp and what kind of role they might carve out before roster decisions start getting serious, which is why these matchups can feel bigger in Nashville than they do anywhere else. [Read more 🡒]