Former Arizona State wide receiver Elijhah Badger transferred to Florida this summer, filling out a position of need for the Gators ahead of the 2024 season. The California native met with the media on Monday to discuss what went into his decision.
“I didn’t want to regret nothing. Just being at Arizona State for all four years, I didn’t want to regret nothing,” Badger said on why he entered the portal. “I feel like my reason is a good reason. I feel like they [UF] just had a place for me, and just me coming on a visit, just the football community. I liked it. I loved it. My mom loved it also.”
Badger isn’t the first Arizona State wide receiver to transfer to Florida in recent years; Ricky Pearsall also did before becoming a first-round pick in the NFL Draft two years later.
“I did talk to Ricky. He sent me a text and just told me about the football community and how big of a stage it is and how he liked it when he came,” Badger said.
Pearsall’s message to Badger:
“Just like how he liked the receiver coach, Coach G [Billy Gonzales], and just like how he came in and did what he did. He just told me I could do the same, man, just go in there and do my job.”
Badger has seen first hand what it’s liked to be coached by Billy Gonzales, who isn’t afraid to get on his receivers about the smaller details.
“I like how hyper he is and how he gets on your head about things in practice,” Badger said on Gonzales. “Just working on finishing, route running, a lot of things.”
A lot has been made over Florida’s No.1 ranked strength of schedule in 2024, but head coach Billy Napier pitched this as a positive to the Pac-12 receiver, who was interested in facing a higher level of competition.
“Just the big stage I can play on and just the teams we play…he sold me on that,” Badger said on Napier’s message.
Badger has a unique story because he’s been able to produce despite catching a pass from six different quarterbacks throughout his last two seasons at ASU. The 6’1, 192-pound receiver totaled 1,579 yards and 10 touchdowns on 135 catches during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Through two games at UF, Badger has already caught a pass from both Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway, totaling six catches for 166 yards.