Tag: Ricky Pearsall

Jaden Rashada visited Arizona State over the weekend

Jaden Rashada paid a visit to Arizona State over the weekend.

The [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag] saga may have wrapped up its Florida chapter, but there is still a lot of story to be written.

Over the weekend, 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman reported that the former UF commit was on Arizona State’s campus for a visit. Rashada officially requested his release from his national letter of intent from the University of Florida last week, with the Gators releasing him later in the week. His father, Harlen, played for the Sun Devils in the 1990s, with Jaden growing up familiar with the Pac-12 program.

The five-star quarterback from Pittsburg, California, has a relationship with Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, dating back to Dillingham’s time at Oregon. Before Rashada’s original commitment to the Miami Hurricanes in June 2022, the Ducks on his shortlist of teams he was considering committing to.

Rashada’s commitment to the Hurricanes sparked outrage among the Florida fan base, with head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] publishing an open letter to fans shortly after, preaching patience as he rebuilds the Gators’ football program. The patience paid off, with Napier landing double-digit four-star recruits in the month following the letter.

In November, Rashada flipped from Miami to Florida in one of the highlights of Billy Napier’s tenure thus far; Rashada then signed his LOI in December. Up to that point, the future was bright for the Gators with their presumed future signal-caller. He was expected to report to Gainesville after participating in January’s All-American Bowl just a short drive away in Orlando.

When Rashada did not report, concerns arose about a potential bump in the road between him and Florida. It later came out that a NIL deal worth a reported $13 million check failed to clear, causing the rift between the Gators and Rashada.

If Rashada ends up playing for Arizona State, he would join the ranks of current LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and former Florida quarterback [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag] as the Sun Devils’ signal caller. On the flip side, wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] came over from ASU to help bolster up the receiver corps for Florida in 2022 — and looks to do the same in 2023.

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Where Florida’s 2023 recruiting class finished in final On3 rankings

Half of Florida’s 2023 recruiting class wound up in the On3 top 300 after the final update was released on Tuesday.

The Florida Gators already signed the bulk of its 2023 recruiting class, and the haul is looking even better than expected after On3 provided its last update to its independent rankings, the On300.

Ten of Florida’s signees cracked the top 300 and five players made it into the top 100.

Again, this is On3’s independent rankings, which is used to reach the more commonly cited On3 consensus or 247Sports composite rankings. Those are aggregate scores that use different formulas depending on the site and are used more often because they help eliminate any one service’s individual bias.

Several of Florida’s signees participated in All-Star games and boosted their stock with good performances against some of the top players in the class. The two most notable were cornerback [autotag]Ja’Keem Jackson[/autotag] and defensive lineman [autotag]Kelby Collins[/autotag], who each moved up over 50 spots to break into the top 50.

Here’s a look at where each Florida signee from the class of 2023 finished in the On300 rankings.

Gators getting major offensive piece back in 2023

He’s coming back for another year! Florida is getting wide receiver Ricky Pearsall back for the 2023 season.

The Florida Gators got a major piece of their offense back on Saturday as wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] announced his return to the team for the 2023 season on Instagram.

Pearsall appeared in all 13 games for Florida and started 10 of those, mostly in the slot. He hauled in 33 receptions for 661 yards and five touchdowns and added another 113 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on eight attempts. With [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] headed to the pros, Pearsall should improve on those numbers in 2023 and serve as the leader of Florida’s wide receiver room.

Behind him will be Thai Independence CC transfer [autotag]Thai Chiaokhiao-Bowman[/autotag] and true freshman [autotag]Eugene Wilson III[/autotag], which further highlights how badly Florida needed Pearsall to return.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnZ7IU2KzsT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Pearsall, also a transfer, spent his three years at the collegiate level playing for Arizona State. He broke out as a junior and caught Billy Napier’s eye in the transfer portal. After four years, Pearsall could have opted to leave for the NFL, but another year in the SEC should boost his draft stock.

He won’t have [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] passing to him, but Florida has added former Wisconsin quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] and has [autotag]Jack Miller III[/autotag] also competing for the job. [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] will also get a fair share of targets out wide, but Pearsall should have a big year with Shorter out of the picture.

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Former Florida wide receiver stays in-state, transfers to UCF

Florida wide receiver Trent Whittemore is transferring to the University of Central Florida after four years with the program.

After four years with the Florida Gators, wide receiver [autotag]Trent Whittemore[/autotag] is transferring to the University of Central Florida to play for the Knights. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining once he arrives in Orlando.

Whittemore is a hometown guy that played for Buchholz in high school before signing with Florida in 2019. He played several positions as a prep athlete but showed promise at receiver once reaching the collegiate level. Whittemore got chances to work at the slot in 2020 and 2021, but he never really found a spot in [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s offense once the new coaching staff took over.

He leaves Florida with 425 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns on 33 receptions through 29 games. Whittemore also threw two touchdowns and completed three of four passes for 41 yards in 2021.

At one point, Whittemore and his brother planned to reunite in the Swamp in 2022, but Creed — a three-star athlete in the class of 2023 — is now signed to Mississippi State and Trent is headed south to join UCF in its first Power Five season.

Florida has a bit of a receiver problem after losing several pass-catchers to the transfer portal and NFL draft. That problem could get even tougher if [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] opts to go pro, but he is still undecided at publishing time.

[autotag]Xavier Henderson[/autotag] is experienced out wide, but [autotag]Caleb Douglas[/autotag] might be the next best option if the Gators don’t add anyone through the transfer portal. The Gators do have a trio of incoming receivers that could fight for significant playing time as well.

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Florida considered a ‘loser’ in ESPN’s transfer portal recap

The Gators are a “loser” due to the number of players that have left the program in recent weeks.

With the creation of the transfer portal and the one-time transfer rule in full effect, players have changed teams at the highest rate in history. Some programs have been more successful than others. ESPN has compiled a list of their recent winners and losers of the transfer portal, with the Florida Gators falling into the “losers” category.

The portal is still early in its existence. Players have always been able to transfer, but the one-time transfer rule has given players more agency in their collegiate careers. It also allows coaches to plug roster holes in a more immediate fashion. While a strategy of loading up on transfers isn’t sustainable as a long-term roster-building technique, it can be helpful in transition periods where a new coach is looking to turn over the roster.

That’s the situation that the Gators find themselves in with [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] entering his second season as head coach. Napier did a fantastic job in the portal last season. He took [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] and [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. with him from Louisiana and brought in [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] from Arizona State. All three players were vital parts of the Gators’ 2022 offense.

With over 25 players leaving the program via the portal, it’s understandable that the Orange and Blue are considered to be “losers” of the portal heading into 2023. Here is ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren’s explanation for Florida’s negative distinction:

Florida has lost 26 players to the portal since Nov. 11, including:

  • Former ESPN 300 safety Kamar Wilcoxson
  • Edge rusher Lloyd Summerall III (11 games)
  • Safety Donovan McMillon (20 tackles)
  • Linebackers Chief Borders (12 games) and David Reese (13 games)
  • Running back Nay’Quan Wright (753 career yards, five TDs)
  • Wide receiver Daejon Reynolds (244 yards, two TDs in 2022)

Billy Napier and his staff have made moves, bringing in Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz, Ohio State linebacker Teradja Mitchell and Louisville defensive lineman Caleb Banks.

Despite that and the fact the Gators have a top-10 recruiting class coming in, they still have work to do to replace depth and competition at some key positions on both sides of the ball.

While not as deep as before, the mass exodus isn’t anything Florida fans should worry about. Napier is clearly taking a “quality over quantity” approach in his roster building, and crafting a roster that is willing to buy into his way of doing things is part of it. I wouldn’t expect the roster to be as thin for too much longer, as Napier is placing a strong emphasis on recruiting going forward.

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Best photos from Ricky Pearsall’s 2022 season at Florida

Take a look at some of the best photos from Ricky Pearsall’s 2022 campaign with the Gators.

Wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] came to the Gators through the transfer portal from the Arizona State Sundevils ahead of the 2022 season and made his presence felt in Gainesville. The 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound pass-catcher appeared in all 13 games for the Orange and Blue including 10 starts along the way, putting up solid numbers in each appearance.

The fourth-year junior put up career highs nearly across the board at Florida this past fall, amassing 33 catches for 661 yards (20 yards/per) and five touchdowns while also carrying the ball eight times for 113 yards (14.1 yards/per) and a score. His only stat that was not a career-best was total catches, which he set the prior season with 48 at ASU.

Take a look below at some of the top photographs of Pearsall from the 2022 Florida football campaign.

Florida WR invited to 2023 NFL combine despite undecided future

Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall hasn’t officially declared for the NFL draft yet, but he has received an invitation to the 2023 combine.

It’s currently unknown whether Florida wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] will use up his final year of college eligibility before turning pro, but there’s no question that the NFL draft is calling him.

On Monday, Pearsall posted a screenshot of his invitation to the 2023 NFL combine on Instagram with the caption, “thank you Lord,” according to 247Sports. While that post does not serve a confirmation of his departure, Florida fans should consider a reality where Pearsall doesn’t return for a second year in the Swamp.

He joined the team in spring through the transfer portal after moving on from Arizona State and served as the Gators’ starting slot receiver all year. He finished the season with 33 receptions, 661 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 113 more yards and a score on the ground. If Pearsall did return, he’d be the unquestioned leader in Florida’s 2023 wide receivers room.

Reporters questioned Pearsall on Dec. 17 about his future after Florida’s Las Vegas Bowl loss to Oregon State, and he was noncommittal at the time.

“There’s a lot of aspects that go into it,” Pearsall said. “But, you know, I’m still thinking about it, being patient with it.”

Losing Pearsall to the pros would be another major loss for the Gators after [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] declared for the draft and [autotag]Daejon Reynolds[/autotag] entered the transfer portal. It would leave [autotag]Xzavier Henderson[/autotag] as the team’s lone returning starter with [autotag]Caleb Douglas[/autotag] behind him, assuming his recovery goes as planned.

Florida’s bringing in a decent crop of freshmen receivers, but dipping into the transfer portal might be necessary if Pearsall leaves.

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Florida’s top wide receiver still deciding between draft and returning

Getting receiver Ricky Pearsall back for another year would be huge for the Gators, but he could still end up declaring for the NFL draft.

The Florida Gators have already lost a ton of talent to the transfer portal and NFL draft, but one of the biggest remaining questions for the team following a Las Vegas Bowl is what the future holds for wide receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag].

The NFL draft is calling, but Pearsall could return for his final year of eligibility if he thinks he can boost his draft stock. Pro Football Focus gave Pearsall the highest marks of any receiver on the team this season. He also ranks fourth in the SEC at publishing time.

With Justin Shorter NFL-bound, Florida could use Pearsall’s return to help guide the incoming freshman class, but the decision is entirely up to him. Pearsall didn’t go too deep into his thought process after the Las Vegas Bowl, but it sounds like he’s still making a decision.

“There’s a lot of aspects that go into that,” Pearsall said. “I’m still thinking about it and I’m being patient with it. I love being here and that’s a really important aspect for me and my decision. I love coach and all my teammates, so I’m proud of these guys.”

Pearsall said he was proud of quarterback [autotag]Jack Miller III[/autotag] specifically despite a rough performance in the bowl game, but Florida’s transfer activity could help him decide whether he stays or not. The Gators have emerged as a serious contender for Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall, and landing an elite transfer in the portal could give Pearsall the arm he needs to show off for NFL scouts as a premiere receiver in the SEC.

Gator Nation will be following Pearsall’s activity closely until he makes a decision. Keeping him for another year would be a huge boost to what could be a very inexperienced offense.

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Taking a look at Florida’s depth chart ahead of the Las Vegas Bowl

The Las Vegas Bowl is almost here and Florida is working with a different look roster after a busy start to the transfer season.

Florida’s depth chart for the Las Vegas Bowl looks a whole lot different from the opening-day roster, but that’s expected as players leave for the draft, enter the transfer portal and suffer injuries over the course of the year.

Starting with the offense, Florida is down players at every position but running back. [autotag]Jack Miller III[/autotag] is making his first start at quarterback with [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] headed to the NFL, and walk-on [autotag]Kyle Engel[/autotag] true will serve as the backup. True freshman [autotag]Max Brown[/autotag] is listed as the third-string option under center.

[autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] are the only available running backs on Saturday, but that duo has the bulk of Florida’s carries over the season so it shouldn’t be a problem.

[autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] is preparing for the draft, which means [autotag]Xavier Henderson[/autotag] is the new No. 1 out wide for the Gators. True freshman [autotag]Caleb Douglas[/autotag] gets the No. 2 spot (and his second start) with [autotag]Daejon Reynolds[/autotag] in the transfer portal, and [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] is still in the slot. Despite losing some talent from the receivers room, Florida is in an okay spot heading into the bowl game.

At tight end, [autotag]Keon Zipperer[/autotag] is still dealing with an injury, meaning [autotag]Dante Zanders[/autotag] is the starter once again. [autotag]Jonathan Odom[/autotag] was productive as the team’s second tight end towards the end of the season and will get another shot to audition for next year against Oregon State.

Florida’s offensive line features a new face: Redshirt freshman [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag], who will get his first start at right guard with O’Cyrus Torrence headed to the pros. Left tackle [autotag]Richard Gouraige[/autotag] is also going to the NFL, but he could start in the bowl game and is officially listed as an “or” option along with [autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag]. [autotag]Ethan White[/autotag] and [autotag]Kinglsey Eguakun[/autotag] remain at left guard and center, and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] returns to the right tackle spot. Christian Williams could see an increase in snaps as the primary backup for either guard spot with [autotag]Richie Leonard[/autotag] injured.

Now on to the defense.

Florida’s defensive line looks the same as it was through the final few games of the season: [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Princely Umanimielen[/autotag] at defensive end, [autotag]Desmond Watson [/autotag]at nose tackle and [autotag]Antwaun Powell-Ryland J[/autotag]r. at the JACK linebacker spot. The big change in the front seven comes at [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag]’s linebacker spot which now belongs to [autotag]Derek Wingo[/autotag]. [autotag]Amari Burney[/autotag] is the other starting linebacker, but expect [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] and [autotag]Scooby Williams[/autotag] to get some work in too.

In the secondary, [autotag]Jason Marshall Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Jaydon Hill[/autotag] remain as Florida’s starting cornerbacks, and [autotag]Trey Dean III[/autotag] and [autotag]Rashad Torrence[/autotag] will get another run at their respective safety spots. [autotag]Jadarrius Perkins[/autotag] is stepping in for an injured [autotag]Tre’Vez Johnson[/autotag] at the STAR, but that shouldn’t disrupt the defense too much.

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Here’s what Anthony Richardson said after Florida’s season-ending loss to FSU

Was Friday night’s loss to FSU the last time we’ll see Anthony Richardson in Orange in Blue? Here’s what he said after the game.

Florida quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] shook his head as he read the stat sheet after a 48-35 loss to Florida State on Friday.

“I see nine completions and 27 attempts, that’s just crazy to see that it was only nice completions. That’s just crazy to me,” Richardson said.

When asked about a stretch of 11 passes that fell incomplete, Richardson took responsibility for the mistakes.

“That’s just us not connecting,” he said. “Winning matchups, we knew we were going to get one-on-one matchups in this game. We tried to attack them outside and they played pretty good defense and deflected most of the passes. But that’s just not winning matchups one-on-one and that’s something we talked about all week.”

Still, the disappointment on Richardson’s face was hard to miss. This was a game he wanted to win and was perhaps his last in the Orange in Blue.

“It’s an emotional game for everybody,” he said. “Last regular season game for us, a rivalry game at that, so it definitely meant a lot to a lot of people — the state of Florida in general. Just seeing how much it meant to people, it makes you want to go out there and play a little harder for them. But, you win some, you lose some. You just have to get better day by day.”

Richardson called the team a family, which is something they weren’t at the beginning of the season. The new staff has pushed to change the culture at Florida in year one, and Richardson clearly can feel the sense of camaraderie that’s developed over the season.

Head coach Billy Napier didn’t mince words when he was questioned about what many considered a shaky performance from Richardson.

“I think you have to evaluate each one of those plays individually,” Napier said. “I saw a guy that competed, that’s what I saw. I saw a guy that made some unbelievable plays as a runner, made some elite throws at times. So, when you play in a game like that, there’s going to be things you can do better. There’s no question. Even if you win the game, those same things that you can learn from, they happened. Regardless, there’s opportunity. Sometimes problems are opportunities in disguise. I’m proud of Anthony and the way he competed in the game.”

Richardson admitted that he was happy receiver [autotag]Ricky Pearsall[/autotag] was able to play. Florida’s top two receivers, [autotag]Justin Shorter[/autotag] and [autotag]Xavier Henderson[/autotag], weren’t available for this game, but Richardson maintained that the team would’ve been ready with whoever was available.

As far as the quarterback’s future at the Univerity of Florida, even Richardson isn’t sure what’s to come.

“I don’t know, we just have to get to the drawing board and find out why I’m 9-for-27,” Richardson said.

It seems like the door is open for Richardson to play in the bowl game and possibly return for another year at Florida, but only time will tell which decision he makes.

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