We all knew it was going to happen, but that doesn’t mean it’s still not going to be tough to say goodbye. On Wednesday, the official deadline arrived for players to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft and as expected, Tennessee Vols standout James Pearce Jr. is on his way to the pros.

Pearce sure took his time, waiting until late in the night to make his decision public. With him expected to be a Top 15 pick, the decision was easy for him. Leaving Knoxville will be tough for the superstar talent, though, which was made clear thanks to the goodbye video he posted on social media to let fans know of his decision:

Pearce is widely considered one of the best pass-rusher prospects for the ’25 class and he’s a lock to be taken in the first round come late April. In a new mock draft from CBS’ Mike Renner, he has the Vols’ standout going to the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 11 pick. So, Pearce is just outside of the Top 10? That’d be great to see for him.

“The 49ers defensive line took a massive step backwards from their Super Bowl form this season,” Renner wrote. “James Pearce Jr. immediately brings some necessary juice that they’ve been missing. He should light up the NFL Scouting Combine and plays the run well for an undersized defender.”

There were some Tennessee fans who were holding out hope that Pearce might end up returning to the team for one more season, but if he has the chance to be among the first pass-rushers taken off the board, then it’s a no-brainer for him to go to the league.

He will be missed, that’s a given. Pearce was a force in the trenches and people loved the passion and intensity he brought to the field. While it sucks he’s done making plays for Josh Heupel, that doesn’t take away from the fact that UT supporters will be ready to see him put on a show in the NFL starting next fall.