Florida’s senior wide receiver, Ricky Pearsall, is on the verge of achieving a milestone not seen in Gainesville for two decades.
PREVIEW AND PREDICTION: GATORS TAKE ON SURGING MISSOURI
In the first 10 games of the 2023 season, Pearsall has recorded impressive stats with 876 yards on 62 catches and four touchdowns. He now has a chance to become the first Florida Gator to surpass 1,000 receiving yards since Taylor Jacobs in 2002, who finished with 1,088 receiving yards.
Pearsall needs just 124 more receiving yards in the remaining two games to etch his name into the Florida record books. With three 100-yard games already under his belt this season, one more stellar performance will place him alongside legendary Gator receivers such as Taylor Jacobs, Carlos Alvarez, Jabbar Gaffney, Chris Doering, and the trio of Jacquez Green, Ike Hilliard, and Reidel Anthony.
Expressing his excitement, Pearsall stated, “I’m very excited to be able to go and do that. It’s a goal I set at the very beginning of the season. So, I’m still working towards it. Still got to go get it.”
In his final college road game, Pearsall faces Missouri, whose passing defense ranks 81st against FBS opponents, allowing an average of 241.8 receiving yards per game. This presents a strategic opportunity for Pearsall to capitalize on their weakness and move closer to the historic mark.
Looking ahead, the path gets tougher as Florida State boasts the 22nd-ranked passing defense against FBS opponents, allowing only 193.6 receiving yards per game.
As the season winds down, attention has shifted to Pearsall’s future, and head coach Billy Napier acknowledges the NFL’s interest in the talented receiver. Napier said, “I don’t want to say underrated because he’s pretty highly regarded out there. I know the National Football League feels that way. Ricky, in my opinion, is the product of a lot of work. He’s highly skilled. He can win at the line of scrimmage. He can win at the top of the route. He has good awareness. He understands coverage and leverage. He’s run routes.”
With Pearsall’s outstanding performance this season and the potential to break a two-decade-old record, the NFL seems to be taking notice of this rising star from the Florida Gators.
Support Gators Breakdown and get your Florida Gators merch at Fanatics
0 Comments