One of the biggest decisions of Florida’s offseason came from wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] when he decided to pass on the NFL for another year and return to the Swamp.
Part of that decision was financial. Players can now make comparable money in college to what a late-round pick might receive, and it’s kept underclassmen from declaring early for the most part. Pearsall inked a deal with the Gator Collective this week, according to Gators Online, and it’s hard to imagine that name, image and likeness compensation didn’t play a factor when it came time to decide.
Pearsall’s deal comes at a time that he’s expected to take over as the primary receiver at Florida. [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] is off to the NFL and [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] is the only returning receiver with significant playing time under his belt. Pearsall could be a star in the slot for whichever quarterback Florida ends up with as the starter in 2023.
The Gator Collective has focused heavily on compensating current Gators rather than incoming players, and Pearsall’s numbers warrant the increased attention he’s getting. He led the team in 2022 with 661 yards and five touchdowns and finished second with 33 receptions.
His NIL deal with the Gator Collective wasn’t the only reason Pearsall came back, but it certainly made the decision easier.
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