Tag: Ricky Pearsall

2023 Florida Football Position Preview: Wide Receivers

Ricky Pearsall is set to lead a group of relatively inexperience receivers in Gainesville in 2023.

Florida’s wide receiver room is young, but at the top of the depth chart is Ricky Pearsall, a fifth-year player ready to lead an inexperienced group and serve as a lifeline for new quarterback Graham Mertz.

Pearsall flirted with the draft for a bit after the Las Vegas Bowl, but he opted to come back to Florida and is the unquestioned leader among UF wide receivers in 2023. With that said, Pearsall still might not be the most talented player on the roster.

Before Keary Colbert left Billy Napier’s staff for the NFL, he brought in a trio of elite wide receivers. All three freshmen could see playing time this season, and most are expecting them too.

It’s an interesting group catching passes this year in the Swamp, but uncertainty doesn’t mean doom. Syncing up with Mertz is what will matter most, and Napier has already shown he’s willing to use whoever is playing best to find that chemistry on the field.

Here’s a look at each of the wide receivers on Florida’s roster.

Pair of Gators noticeably absent from practice on Saturday

A couple of guys missed practice time on Saturday.

Florida football continued its preseason practice schedule on Saturday getting its reps in front of the general public — the first fall practice held in the Swamp in nine years. As the players toil away in preparation for the upcoming gridiron grind, a couple of Gators were noticeably missing from the field, according to On3’s Nick de la Torre.

Senior wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag], one of the leaders on and off the field for the Orange and Blue this season, missed the day with an undisclosed illness. It is likely a transient issue that should be resolved within a day or two but it is never a good sign when your top pass-catcher misses practice time.

Pearsall was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List last Monday.

The other teammate who could not make the field was sophomore cornerback [autotag]Devin Moore[/autotag], who is out with an undisclosed upper-body injury. He sustained a shoulder injury that required surgery last year that ended his season after just five games.

Moore spent the entirety of spring practice season in a non-contact jersey as he continues rehabbing his shoulder.

The Gators opened camp Sunday, July 30, and the team held its first practice of the 2023 season on Monday, July 31. Last Saturday’s event was the only practice open to the general public.

Florida opens its 2023 schedule on the road against the Utah Utes on Aug. 31, with a kickoff time of 8 p.m. EDT.

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Florida WR Ricky Pearsall named to Maxwell Award Watch List

The Florida Gators are going to lean on Ricky Pearsall a lot this year, and it’s no surprise to see him make the Maxwell Award Watch List ahead of the 2023 season.

Florida’s top returning wide receiver, Ricky Pearsall, made the Maxwell Award Watch List on Monday.

The Maxwell Award is in its 87th year and is presented annually to the “most outstanding player in college football.” The preseason watch list consists of 85 players, including Pearsall, who is among the 15 total wide receivers that made the cut. Aside from the two tight ends on the list, the rest of the watch list is made up of quarterbacks and running backs.

Pearsall led the Gators with 661 yards and five touchdowns on 33 receptions. He was the only wideout to play all 13 games for the club, and he could have turned to the draft as a late-round pick. Instead, he opted to return for a fifth year of college ball (his second at UF) and should be the focus of Florida’s passing attack this year.

Although Pearsall lined up mostly in the slot last season, he should see more snaps out wide in 2023. Justin Shorter is in the NFL now and Xzavier Henderson transferred to Cincinnati to reunite with Emory Jones, leaving nearly 350 snaps to replace. Caleb Douglas and Ja’Quavion Fraziars might be the two most likely names to step into those roles by the season’s end, but Pearsall will surely help burden the load as the younger players transition.

The last Gator to win the Maxwell Award was Tim Tebow, who claimed it in both 2008 and 2009. The full watch list can be found here.

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This Florida WR will return punts for the Gators in 2023

Ricky Pearsall isn’t satisfied with being labeled as just an offensive threat. He’ll take over punt return duties full time for Florida in 2023.

Some will argue it’s too dangerous to use a team’s top receiver as the primary punt returner, but Florida is going with [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] for the job in 2023.

Pearsall made the announcement on Wednesday during the SEC media days, according to Swamp247. Injuries prevented him from taking on the role a year ago, but the departure of Xavier Henderson opened the role for Pearsall to take over. He says it’s what he’s most excited about this season.

“It’s a little nerve-wrackin,g but I’m going to be the guy to do it,” Pearsall said. “Early on (in his time at Florida), we were planning to have me as the punt returner, but it didn’t work out because of the circumstances.”

Although returning punts will be something new for Pearsall, it’s not the only way he’s stepping outside of his comfort zone in 2023. Pearsall spent the spring practicing as an outside wide receiver. He was the slot guy for Florida throughout 2022, but the roster has changed and he could see more time wide.

“I think I’m going to make a huge impact,” he said. “Anywhere I can help my team out. I trust coach Napier to put me in the right spots. When those opportunities come, execute.”

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Florida football announces 2023 SEC Media Days representatives

This trio of Gators will join Billy Napier in Nashville for this summer’s SEC Media Days.

Florida football players [autotag]Kingsley Eguakun[/autotag], [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] will represent the Gators alongside Billy Napier this year at the SEC Media Days in Nashville, Tennessee, the league announced on Monday.

The four-day event, which kicks off on July 17 inside the Nashville Grand Hyatt, features all 14 conference head coaches along with three players per team representing their respective programs.

Florida makes its appearance at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday, July 19, coinciding with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Arkansas Razorbacks and Kentucky Wildcats on the same day. The rest of the conference’s daily schedule and coaches can be found below.

Monday, July 17

LSU – Brian Kelly
Missouri – Eli Drinkwitz
Texas A&M – Jimbo Fisher

Tuesday, July 18

Auburn – Hugh Freeze
Georgia – Kirby Smart
Mississippi State – Zach Arnett
Vanderbilt – Clark Lea

Wednesday, July 19

Alabama – Nick Saban
Arkansas – Sam Pittman
Florida – Billy Napier
Kentucky – Mark Stoops

Thursday, July 20

Ole Miss – Lane Kiffin
South Carolina – Shane Beamer
Tennessee – Josh Heupel

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Who are the top players on the 2023 Florida roster?

Anthony Richardson was clearly the most talented player on the 2022 roster, but who is the best Gator heading into 2023?

The Florida Gators football team saw many players come and go over the offseason. With fall camp just a few months away, it’s time to start thinking about who the best players on the teams are heading into the 2023 season.

Zach Abolverdi of Gators Online recently released his power rankings for Florida’s 2023 roster, and there are as many surprising names inside his top 20 as there are predictable.

At No. 1, Abolverdi goes with wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who considered leaving the program for the NFL after the end of last season. Another year in the Swamp (and some  NIL money) was too much to pass up, though, and Pearsall returns as the clear No. 1 receiver on the team. The departures of Justin Shorter (NFL draft) and Xzavier Henderson (transfer portal) mean that he’s the only returning starter out wide as well.

Of course, the biggest question heading into the season is who will be Florida’s quarterback, and Gators Online is going with Graham Mertz here. The Wisconsin transfer sits at No. 10 on the power rankings, which is a bit lower than most fans would like to see. Anthony Richardson would undoubtedly top this list, and Pearsall’s success is tied to Mertz’s.

Fortunately, Florida’s running game is expected to be elite once again in 2023, with both Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne returning. Both are in Abolverdi’s top five, but perhaps not in the order you’d expect. Click here to see the entire top 20.

Over here at Gators Wire, it’s a tough call between Pearsall and Johnson when it comes to naming Florida’s top players heading into the season. Pearsall gets the nod here from us, but Johnson should play a significant role as a junior back that’s ready to step into a leadership spot on the team.

Cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. has the talent to be in this conversation as well, but he hasn’t shown enough at the college level to warrant consideration over those who have (Pearsall, Johnson, etc.).

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College Sports Wire’s preliminary rankings for top 2023 SEC wide receivers

Gators have a top-10 SEC wide receiver coming back for one more collegiate campaign.

The opening kickoff of the 2023 college football campaign is less than three months away, and while recruiting season is in full swing on campuses around the country, programs are also preparing for the upcoming autumn season.

Florida football, like its peers in both the Southeastern Conference as well as among Power Five schools, has its spring practice season well in the rearview mirror. The team, media and fanbase all alike have a better idea of what to expect from the Orange and Blue this fall, which opens the doors for some projections and predictions.

College Sports Wire’s Patrick Conn recently assembled his rankings for the top wide receivers in the SEC this coming fall, which included Florida’s senior pass-catcher Ricky Pearsall. Conn ranked him at No. 7 and gives his explanation below.

Pearsall was a big-play receiver last season in his first campaign with the Gators. He transferred over from Arizona State and led the team in receiving yards, yards per catch, and touchdowns. His longest reception of the year was 52 yards. Pearsall will need to carry the load for a Florida team that lost their reception leader, Xzavier Henderson, who left via the transfer portal and joined the Cincinnati Bearcats.

South Carolina Gamecocks’ Antwane Wells leads the list and figures to be a major threat in the conference with quarterback Spencer Rattler tossing bombs to him. Malik Nabers (Louisiana State Tigers), Zakhari Franklin (Ole Miss Rebels), Dominic Lovett (Georgia Bulldogs), Moose Muhammad (Texas A&M Aggies) and Ladd McConkey (UGA) all stand between Pearsall and the top spot, respectively.

The Gators open up their 2023 schedule on the road against the Utah Utes on Aug. 31, with a kickoff time of 8 p.m. EDT set.

Ricky Pearsall 2022 Stats:

Rec Yards YPR TDs
33 661 20.03 5

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Where does Ricky Pearsall stand among returning SEC receivers?

Among returning wide receivers in the SEC, Florida’s Ricky Pearsall received the third-highest player grade from Pro Football Focus. Is No. 1 in for a big senior year?

It’s hard to gauge exactly which receiver will be the best in the SEC with three months left in the offseason, but Florida’s [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] figures to be one of the top returning pass catchers in the conference.

Pro Football Focus gave Pearsall an offensive grade of 80.3 for the 2022 season, which ranks third among returning receivers in the SEC. Georgia’s Dominic Lovett (83.8) and Arkansas’ Andrew Armstrong (82.9) finished ahead of him.

Of course, looking at the grades of returning players doesn’t paint the entire picture. There are rising sophomores set to take the next step, such as Tennessee’s Squirrel White and Texas A&M’s Evan Stewart. LSU’s Malik Nabers might be the favorite to land on top of the conference now that Kayshon Boutte is out of the picture.

Pearsall should be Florida’s top option on most pass plays in 2023. The Arizona State transfer hauled in 33 receptions for 661 yards and six total touchdowns in 2022 for the Gators.

Last year’s No. 1, Justin Shorter, got drafted by the Buffalo Bills, and the other starter, Xzavier Henderson, recently announced his transfer to the University of Cincinnati. Redshirt sophomore Marcus Burke and sophomore Caleb Douglas are the favorites to start at the other receiver spots.

If Graham Mertz (or Jack Miller III) can find Pearsall consistently, he should be able to be a top-five receiver in the conference with ease.

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Florida losing WR Xzavier Henderson to transfer portal

Florida’s third spring transfer is a big one. Wide receiver Xzavier Henderson, who started 11 games for the Gators in 2022, is hitting the portal.

Florida wide receiver [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] is entering the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report from Swamp247.

Henderson started 11 games for Florida last year and was expected to step into a bigger role with [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] moving on to the NFL. 247Sports’ Jacob Rudner said that sophomore [autotag]Caleb Douglas[/autotag] and freshman [autotag]Andy Jean[/autotag] had strong springs behind Henderson, which may have influenced the decision to leave.

[autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] is the clear leader of the receiver room, but [autotag]Marcus Burke[/autotag], Douglas and Jean are all young players showing promise.

Henderson leaves Florida with 835 career receiving yards and five touchdowns on 73 catches over 35 games. His best game in the Orange and Blue came against Georgia when he hauled in five receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Receivers coach Billy Gonzalez reported strong spring scrimmage performances from Henderson, and head coach Billy Napier also spoke highly of him during the spring. The transfer is somewhat surprising, but he’s not the first player to leave the team during the second portal period of teh year.

Offensive lineman [autotag]David Conner[/autotag] and edge rusher [autotag]Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr[/autotag]. were the first two Gators to leave the team in the spring. Following Henderson’s departure, Florida will have five open scholarship spots to hand out to transfers.

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Florida has one of college football’s 12 most lethal rosters in 2023

Florida has a ton of talent on its roster heading into the 2023 season, but that doesn’t guarantee success.

The Florida Gators finished tied for 12th in 247Sports’ recent list of the most lethal rosters heading into the 2023 season.

247Sports’ Brad Crawford used the site’s team composite ranking to rank the teams. He took the average position of the team’s finish over the past five years and Florida finished with a 12.4 average, the same as Michigan.

Florida finished 14th in the country during the most recent cycle. Losing five-star quarterback Jaden Rashada hurt a class that had a chance to break the top 10. Florida’s first class under Billy Napier in 2022 ranked No. 18 overall, and Dan Mullen brought in the No. 12 class in 2021 and the No. 9 class in 2019 and 2020.

“When Florida is winning national titles, the Gators are one of the nation’s elite recruiting teams,” Crawford wrote. “And while this program has a top-12 roster based on talent heading into coach Billy Napier’s second season, there are certainly depth concerns that the coaching staff must contend with following a disappointing 6-7 finish under the new regime.”

The problem with using this metric to rank teams is that transfers come and go, and the bulk of the Mullen classes has moved on from the program in one way or another. The class of 2020 features some team leaders, such as receiver [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag], but much of the class has transferred out or declared for the upcoming draft.

Florida also added a ton of transfer over the past two offseasons. Quarterbacks [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] and [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag], running backs [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Cameron Carroll[/autotag], receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag], offensive linemen [autotag]Damieon George[/autotag], [autotag]Kiyaunta Goodwin[/autotag] and Micah Mazzccua, defensive linemen [autotag]Caleb Banks[/autotag] and [autotag]CamRon Jackson[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Teradja Mitchell[/autotag]  and cornerback [autotag]Jalen Kimber[/autotag] could all play significant roles for the team next season.

Florida could end up playing like a top-12 in the country by the season’s end, especially if the transfers help make up for the talent lost over the past few years, but it’s unwise to think of the Gators as a top-12 program in terms of actual talent heading into the season.

There’s been too much turnover in the program over the past couple of years for this metric to work for the Gators. A team like Michigan has a much better chance of living up to the expectations created by this list.

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