Ricky Pearsall’s decision to return to the Florida Gators for his final year of eligibility is paying off. The 6-1, 190-pound receiver recorded a career high 661 yards and five touchdowns across 13 games in 2022. After a weighing all his options, Pearsall decided to return to Gainesville and pair up with Wisconsin transfer QB Graham Mertz in effort to increase his NFL draft stock.
Through 10 games of the 2023 season, Pearsall has set career highs in receptions (62) and yards (876) while hauling in four touchdowns. Pearsall is on pace to crack 1,000 receiving yards, which would make him the first Gators’ receiver to hit that mark since Taylor Jacobs in 2002.
Pearsall has put together quite the highlight tape this season, headlined by his one-handed catch against Charlotte, which will go down as one of the best catches of all time.
“This guy is a very underrated player. He is one of the best receivers in the entire country,” Billy Napier said on Pearsall after the Charlotte game. “He’s bigger than you think. He’s more explosive than you think. He came back to improve his stock for the draft, and he’s doing it. Not to mention the leadership and the character that he brings every day, the work habits. Ricky is a very effective player because he’s highly skilled. He can get open at the line. He can separate at the top of the route, and he’s got fantastic ball skills and hand selection.”
After week 10 of the regular season Napier claims that Pearsall is not underrated because he’s highly regarded amongst NFL teams.
“I don’t want to say underrated because he’s pretty highly regarded out there. I know the National Football League feels that way,” Napier said on Pearsall. “Ricky, in my opinion, is the product of a lot of work. He’s highly skilled. He can win at the line of scrimmage. He can win at the top of the route. He has good awareness. He understands coverage and leverage. He’s run routes.”
Napier claiming that Pearsall is highly regarded after stating he’s an underrated receiver two months ago could indicate that NFL scouts have been hitting Napier’s line regarding the Arizona native.
“He’s to a point in his career where he understands what we’re trying to do conceptually, and he’s creative. His hand selection is outstanding,” Napier said on Pearsall.
The one thing that is hurting Pearsall’s NFL Draft stock is his size and overall explosiveness. However, Napier thinks the 6-1, 190-pound receiver will test better than outsiders think.
“I think he’s going to test a lot better than people anticipate,” Napier said on Pearsall. “This guy’s a 40-inch vertical, short shuttle, L drill. Those numbers will be impressive. He’ll run well. He’s bigger than you think.”
Despite the 5-5 2023 season, Pearsall has been a bright spot for the Gators. Napier went as far to say he’s one of the better players he’s ever coached.
“Ricky, he’s up there. I’ve coached some good players,” Napier said on Pearsall. “I’ll tell you what I really appreciate about Ricky Pearsall is the consistency and the person who shows up every day. His attitude, his energy, his leadership. He’s a tough dude, and he has values. He has — he’s equipped with some things that allow him to be really consistent as a performer. He’ll be a great pro. He’ll play for a long time.”
Pearsall has improved his versatility in his final season with the Gators. With the emergence of freshman receiver Eugene Wilson, Pearsall has had to move around outside of his natural slot position, logging 44% of his snaps as the outsider receiver. This level of versatility matched with his overall production will bode well for Pearsall at the next level.
“I like being placed in different positions, just show my versatility, be in the backfield, outside, inside receiver, wherever I can make plays at. I feel confident in each spot I am on the offense, Pearsall said on moving around the Gators’ offense.
It’s too early to tell where Pearsall’s draft stock sits, but NFL Draft Buzz has Pearsall as a 5th round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Walter Football seems to have the highest praise for the 5th year senior, as they have Pearsall ranked as the 10th best receiver entering the draft. We will have a better understanding of Pearsall’s round grade after the 2023 college football season.
A lot of things can change between now and the NFL Draft, but there seems to be a lot more NFL buzz around Pearsall than there was a year ago. An impressive NFL Combine could shoot Pearsall up many teams’ draft boards.