Ricky Pearsall signs new NIL deal with Gator Collective
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Last week Florida Gators receiver Ricky Pearsall announced that he was returning to school for his senior season and this week he signed a contract with the Gator Collective.
Pearsall’s future at Florida remained up in the air for weeks. A fourth-year junior in 2022, he was asked after the Las Vegas Bowl about the decision to enter the 2023 NFL Draft or if he would come back to school.
“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.”
While NIL may not be the sole reason that Pearsall came back to Florida, it didn’t hurt. In fact, the total number of underclassmen and graduates with eligibility remaining entering the draft has decreased in each of the two seasons since NIL became legal.
2019: 135
2020: 115
2021: 128
NIL goes into effect in July of 2021
2022: 100 2023: 82
Pearsall played three years at Arizona State but really broke out in his third season after holding a reserve role for two years. He caught 48 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns to lead ASU’s wide receiver room in 2021.
Pearsall at Florida
Pearsall transferred to Florida late in the 2022 offseason but made an instant impact.
The junior led the team with 661 receiving yards and five touchdowns. The former Sun Devil also became a weapon for Florida on the ground, rushing for 113 yards and a touchdown. Toward the end of the season, Pearsall took over as Florida’s punt returner
Pearsall returning to Florida was a huge win for the Gators and Billy Napier’s offense. A dynamic slot receiver who can also run and help on special teams, Pearsall will be a featured weapon for Florida in 2023.
The Gators lost three receivers in Justin Shorter, Trent Whittemore, and Daejon Reynolds. They had already added two talented freshmen as midyear enrollees in Aidan Mizell and Andy Jean. Newley-minted five-star Eugene Wilson will enroll this summer.
![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier celebrates with Florida Gators wide receiver Aidan Mizell (11) after a touchdown during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/13155133/Untitled-design-65-2.png)
