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There was some WNBA and NFL crossover for Tennessee in the 2025 NFL Draft .
Former Lady Vols basketball star Rickea Jackson was spotted next to Tennessee football edge rusher James Pearce as ESPN showed the two after learning he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round.
Pearce was selected No. 26 overall, and Jackson sat right beside him, smiling subtly as the television cameras showed his reaction to the news.
While there has been no official confirmation on their relationship, Pearce was seen with Jackson at the 2024 WNBA Draft when she was selected No. 4 overall by Los Angeles Sparks.
Shortly after many wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing a mix of surprise and excitement after seeing Jackson with Pearce on TV, she poked fun at the situation by writing "Soooo I have a doppelganger. Wow."
Jackson played for the Lady Vols from 2022-24, after transferring in from Mississippi State. Pearce was a freshman in 2022 and played three seasons with the Vols.
It's the second national TV appearance for Jackson this month, as she was heavily involved in the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14. She was a co-host on the orange carpet, interviewing 2025 draft picks, and was seen on camera as the Sparks drafted their new series of players.
After finishing her rookie season, she played in Unrivaled, the new professional 3x3 basketball league, in Miami from January to March. She was at the Final Four in Tampa on April 4, shortly after she visited her former team prior to the Lady Vols' Sweet 16 game on March 28.
Pearce is the 48th first-round pick in Vols history and the second in coach Josh Heupel's tenure. In 2024, he had 38 tackles (13 for loss), 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
MORE: Fair or not, James Pearce combats maturity questions ahead of 2025 NFL Draft
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Rickea Jackson with Tennessee football's James Pearce at 2025 NFL Draft
Continue reading...
Former Lady Vols basketball star Rickea Jackson was spotted next to Tennessee football edge rusher James Pearce as ESPN showed the two after learning he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round.
Pearce was selected No. 26 overall, and Jackson sat right beside him, smiling subtly as the television cameras showed his reaction to the news.
While there has been no official confirmation on their relationship, Pearce was seen with Jackson at the 2024 WNBA Draft when she was selected No. 4 overall by Los Angeles Sparks.
Shortly after many wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing a mix of surprise and excitement after seeing Jackson with Pearce on TV, she poked fun at the situation by writing "Soooo I have a doppelganger. Wow."
Jackson played for the Lady Vols from 2022-24, after transferring in from Mississippi State. Pearce was a freshman in 2022 and played three seasons with the Vols.
It's the second national TV appearance for Jackson this month, as she was heavily involved in the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14. She was a co-host on the orange carpet, interviewing 2025 draft picks, and was seen on camera as the Sparks drafted their new series of players.
After finishing her rookie season, she played in Unrivaled, the new professional 3x3 basketball league, in Miami from January to March. She was at the Final Four in Tampa on April 4, shortly after she visited her former team prior to the Lady Vols' Sweet 16 game on March 28.
Pearce is the 48th first-round pick in Vols history and the second in coach Josh Heupel's tenure. In 2024, he had 38 tackles (13 for loss), 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
MORE: Fair or not, James Pearce combats maturity questions ahead of 2025 NFL Draft
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Rickea Jackson with Tennessee football's James Pearce at 2025 NFL Draft
Continue reading...
