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Former Tennessee Volunteers star James Pearce Jr. was one of the most talented players in the 2025 NFL Draft, but slipped to the Atlanta Falcons at the bottom of the first round due to alleged character concerns.
Prior to the draft, analysts played coy about why Pearce was falling down draft boards. But after a recent arrest on felony battery and stalking charges, those character concerns are seemingly coming to light.
Now, it’s important to note that Pearce has not been convicted of anything at this point.
However, ex-girlfriend and WNBA star Rickea Jackson, who was the alleged victim of Pearce’s stalking and battery, made some disturbing claims in a recent court filing.
Rickea Jackson Files For Protective Order From James Pearce Jr.
Jackson and Pearce attended Tennessee together and began dating at some point prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, to which she accompanied him.
But in a recent court filing, the Los Angeles Sparks star said that she believed “James will kill me” if the court did not intervene.
Jackson wrote that Pearce “verbally and physically abused me on more than one occasion” and threatened to kill, harm, and injure her and to place a bag over her head, according to the court filing via ESPN.
Pearce stands accused of ramming his car into Jack’s on Feb. 7, and Jackson filed a separate notice with the court that she was willing to testify against Pearce in future proceedings.
The LA Sparks player also went into further detail about the incident in February, stating that she saw Pearce following her in his vehicle as she drove home. She then called 911 and drove to a police station rather than her home “because I knew James was going to hurt me.” Jackson claims that Pearce chased after her at high speeds, blocked her with his car at a traffic light, and tried to enter the vehicle before jumping on top of it.
James Pearce Allegedly Continued His Pursuit Even In Sight Of Police
According to the filing, Jackson said that Pearce reentered his own vehicle and chased her car, attempting to crash into her and get her to spin out. She said Pearce then cut her off with his vehicle before eventually spinning out himself.
Jackson also claims Pearce ran her off the road before reaching the police station, where he continued his alleged battery and stalking.
Even after reaching the station and notifying an officer, Jackson says Pearce continued to ram her car with his. The officer then allegedly attempted to arrest Pearce before he fled the scene.
According to the initial incident report, the officer pulled a gun on Pearce after he failed to obey their commands, but he then got back into his own car, struck a police officer with it, then crashed before being arrested by officers.
As of now, Pearce is still a member of the Falcons’ organization.
“We are aware of an incident involving James Pearce Jr., in Miami. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not have any further comment on an open legal matter at this time,” they said in a statement the day after his arrest.
On the field, Pearce excelled as a rookie, recording 10.5 sacks in 17 games and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting.