Ricky Pearsall sees a bright future for Florida Gators

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•03/21/24•

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators will find out what life without Ricky Pearsall is like in the upcoming 2024 football season. Pearsall hauled in 23 percent of all the Gators’ receptions in 2023 and was responsible for 20 percent of the Gators’ receptions over the two years he spent in Orange and Blue. He was a highlight reel but also a reliable target for both Anthony Richardson and Graham Mertz.

Mertz will be back, as will Eugene Wilson. In 2023 Wilson and Pearsall’s combined catches accounted for 44.6 percent of all of Florida’s receptions in 2023. The Gators will need to find a way to replace Pearsall’s production. The outgoing receiver believes the room has what it takes.

“I think they’re gonna make tremendous strides. I’m excited for them. I was actually at some of the practices. I went to their practice two days ago, I believe, and I was just watching (Eugene) Tre Wilson out there at work. He’s gonna be amazing this year,” Pearsall said. “I’m super excited to watch him work. I’ve been texting him throughout this time, just giving him feedback. I still got some of the passcodes here so I’m spying a little bit, watching practice, watching one-on-ones, just giving them a little feedback that I can give him and just letting him play his game.”

Wilson and Pearsall grew close during the year they played together but even the freshmen receivers have made an impact on Pearsall, specifically Jerrae “Tank” Hawkins.

“He looks really good. He came up to me, too. That was actually — I hosted him (on his official visit),” Pearsall said of Hawkins. “He can move. I’ve heard that he’s looking a lot better than people expected, and I heard that their expectations were really high.”

After two years in Gainesville, playing for Billy Napier, Pearsall believes the program is heading in the right direction.

“I think it’s going in the right direction, for sure. I think Coach Napier does a tremendous job filtering a lot of things that needed to get filtered out, as far as just changing the culture itself. Having the guys trust in him. I think they’re taking off with it,” he said.

“He’s done a lot for me. He’s done a tremendous job, putting me in the right positions, setting me up for success. I can’t thank him enough. As well as treating me like family, man. At the end of the day, every time I walked into this building, I felt like I was around my family. I can’t thank him enough for that.”

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