Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker (11) follows a play against Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Carolina Panthers will line up against two former local high school standouts twice per year for the foreseeable future.
The Atlanta Falcons selected two Charlotte natives in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
At No. 15 overall, the Falcons took linebacker Jalon Walker out of Georgia.
Walker, 6’1” and 243 pounds, was a first-team All-American in 2024 and won the Butkus Award for being the top linebacker in college.
The 21-year-old standout racked up 61 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season, and has played a key role in Georgia’s defensive dominance the past three seasons.
Walker committed to Georgia in 2022 after being a five-star recruit from Salisbury High School.
Walker wasn’t the only Charlotte-based player to be taken in the first round.
James Pearce Jr., a top-15 prospect in the class of 2022 from Chambers High School, was also selected by the Falcons at No. 26 overall.
Atlanta traded back up to the first round to take the Tennessee product. In doing so, the Falcons gave its first-round pick in 2026 to the Los Angeles Rams.
Pearce, 6’5″ and 245 pounds, flashed at Tennessee, earning two first-team All-SEC nods. He led the SEC in sacks in 2023 with 10. He followed that up with 7.5 sacks in 2024.
Pearce is an explosive edge rusher known for his athleticism and pass-rushing ability.
