The presence of Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson at the recent NFL Draft sparked considerable online discussion.
Footage circulating widely across social media platforms showed Jackson seated alongside former University of Tennessee football player James Pearce Jr. shortly after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the Atlanta Falcons had selected Pearce with the 26th overall pick.
Cameras then shifted to Pearce’s North Carolina home, where his family and friends were celebrating. The video captured Jackson appearing to smile, place an arm around Pearce, and gently rub his leg – a moment that quickly went viral.
Speculation regarding a potential romantic relationship between the two athletes has been circulating for over a year; both previously attended the University of Tennessee.
Addressing the flurry of online attention late Friday night, Jackson responded on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Soooo I have a doppelganger. Wow.” The post garnered significant traction, accumulating over 1.7 million views by Friday afternoon.
While some expressed doubt regarding Jackson’s explanation, others appreciated the lightheartedness of her response.
Jackson’s collegiate basketball journey began at Mississippi State before she transferred to Tennessee, where she quickly became a standout player during her two seasons with the Lady Vols. She was subsequently selected by the Sparks in the first round of the 2024 WNBA draft and averaged an impressive 13.4 points per game during her rookie season.
Pearce brings valuable defensive skills to Atlanta, as the Falcons recorded the second-fewest sacks in the NFL last year. He concluded his tenure at Tennessee with 7½ sacks.
The Falcons invested heavily to secure Pearce’s selection, trading away the Los Angeles Rams’ second-round and seventh-round picks for this year’s draft, along with their own first-round pick in 2026. The Rams also relinquished a third-round pick in exchange for this arrangement.
Key Details:
- Rickea Jackson attended the NFL Draft alongside James Pearce Jr.
- Viral videos showed Jackson interacting with Pearce as he was drafted.
- Jackson jokingly claimed to have a “doppelganger” in response to online speculation.
- The Falcons traded significant draft capital to select Pearce, bolstering their pass-rushing capabilities.
“It’s clear the Falcons saw something special in Pearce, willing to part with valuable assets to bring him into the fold,” commented sports analyst Mark Daniels.
