Mel Kiper impressed by Ricky Pearsall, projects him going in 2nd round of 2024 NFL Draft
Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was one of the NFL Combine participants who raised their draft stock over the weekend following an impressive performance in Indianapolis.
Between his game film, his strong testing performance, and his smooth receiver work at the combine, Pearsall may have potentially earned himself a few more million dollars ahead of the NFL Draft in April. So much so that ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. believes the former Gator has now solidified himself as a second-round selection.
“He just goes and gets the football Field,” Kiper said to Field Yates on ESPN’s First Draft. “He’s 6’1, he attacks the ball, he’s got versatility to line up in a variety in a variety of different places, he’s got ability after the catch. He plays the game of football like he enjoys contact, that he likes being physical, and aggressive, and tough. Hits don’t bother him.”
Pearsall spent the first three years of his college career at Arizona State, breaking out for 48 catches for 580 yards and four touchdowns in 2021 before transferring to Florida.
In his first year with the Gators he led the team with 661 receiving yards, averaging a whopping 20 yards per catch to go along with his 33 receptions and six total touchdowns. But last year would be the strongest season to date leading Florida with 65 catches and 965 yards, finding the end zone six times yet again.
“He’s a guy [that’s] feisty, comes to play, did it at Arizona State, did it at Florida,” Kiper said. “There’s a lot to like about Pearsall when you see how he tests, you compare him to other receivers that we thought were maybe second or third-rounders and he’s right there or better. I got to believe second-round Field somebody’s got [to select him].”
Despite being one of the best slot receivers in the nation, there were some doubts surrounding Pearsall’s athleticism ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine.
He answered that with a stellar showing in Indianapolis running a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, posting the fastest three-cone drill time between wide receivers at 6.64 seconds, and testing in the top three amongst the wideouts in the vertical jump and the 20-yard shuttle. Doing so at 6-foot-1, 189 pounds.
“We talked about Cooper Kupp went in the third round, Puka Nacua went in the fifth round. I thought third or fourth round at times during the year, I got to believe second round for him,” Kiper said regarding Pearsall. “You talk about what he had done during the course of his career consistently at two different schools getting it done and then test the way he did.”
It sounds like Ricky Pearsall could be the not-so-hidden gem at wide receiver who could make a major instant impact at the next level ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, which kicks off on April 25 in Detroit.