Ricky Pearsall, WR Florida: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Pearsall was a three-star recruit from Corona Del Sol High School in Tempe, Ariz. in the class of 2019
Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is flying under the radar and could make a lot of noise at the Senior Bowl. The slot receiver is a creative and sharp route runner who will battle for a top 100 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Ricky Pearsall, WR Florida: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Fifth-year senior slot receiver from Chandler, Ariz.
Background: Pearsall was a three-star recruit from Corona Del Sol High School in Tempe, Ariz. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 1,250 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,231 for On3.com. Pearsall was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 77 grade out of 100. He transferred from Arizona State to Florida in 2022. Pearsall was a three-year varsity athlete at Corona Del Sol. He produced 65 receptions for 815 yards and four touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns, and 762 kick return yards with two touchdowns of 95 yards or more as a senior. Pearsall totaled 74 receptions for 1,153 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior. He also added four interceptions across his career as a safety. Pearsall set the Arizona High School 6A single-game receiving yard record as a junior with 342 yards. He was a 2018 First Team All-6A selection for the Arizona Football Coaches Association.
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed some practice time in August of 2022 with an undisclosed illness, suffered two bone bruises on the metatarsal in his foot in 2022 summer camp, never missed a game (as of the end of 2023 regular season)
Awards: 2021 Honorable Mention All-Pac-12
Pros: Special teams experience kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units, gained experience returning punt at Florida, experience playing in the slot and out wide, arm length appears to be NFL-caliber, will likely run fast at the Combine, footwork aids release, quick off the line, speed to stack linebackers easily, defenses must respect his speed, precise route runner, natural separation, quick and soft feet at the top of the stem, lightning quick feet at the stem’s peak opens lots of route options, nice sink in hips at the stem’s top, sudden gear down and turn on comebacks, zone and off-man defenders don’t have time to trigger on comeback routes, shifty route runner who uses hesitations and fakes to create leverage and separation, manipulates defenders to create leverage or put DBs on their heels, spins corners around and crosses their faces, effective shoulder and head fakes, excellent hesitation moves, outside-in hesitation to set up posts, sharp cuts at the top of post routes, runs to space in his route, speed allows for some YAC, adjusts well to misplaced throws, high points the ball well, good concentration at the catch point, rarely drops the ball, flashes of elite tracking and ball skills, gives effort as a blocker, blocks sprung a couple of big plays vs. LSU (2023)
Cons: Lacks exceptional size or build, play strength, needs to work hands into release package, vertical speed doesn’t appear to be anything special, inconsistent separation vertically against press, bumped off routes by contact, struggles to play through contact at the line and mid-route, couldn’t separate from Tykee Smith (2023), limited separation created against man coverage vs. Georgia (2023), needs to sell out-and-up route better (too rounded), should work back to the ball more often when the play breaks down, lacks the play strength to break many tackles, not highly twitchy or elusive after the catch, sometimes pushed around as a blocker, body positioning as a blocker gives defender a line to the ball sometimes
Overview: Pearsall has special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units. He also has experience playing in the slot and out wide. Pearsall appears to have NFL-caliber arm length. He will likely run fast at the NFL Combine, but his speed doesn’t always translate to the field. The former Arizona State transfer is quick off the line with the speed to out-leverage and stack linebackers like Smael Mondon Jr. (2023) quickly. Defensive backs must respect his speed, but he struggles to generate consistent separation downfield, especially out of press coverage. Instead, Pearsall’s greatest asset is his precise route running that generates natural separation. He has lightning quick and soft feet that open plenty of options at the top of the stem. Pearsall’s agility, footwork, and hip sink allow him to suddenly gear down and turn on comebacks and snap off routes at the stem’s peak. He is a shifty route runner who uses hesitations, double moves, and shoulder and head fakes to manipulate defenders and create leverage and separation. The Arizona native spins corners around with sudden, sharp cuts that allow him to cross their faces or slip into their blind spots. His outside-in hesitation is especially effective on post routes. Pearsall runs to space against zone coverage and has the speed to generate some yards after the catch. However, he lacks the play strength to break many tackles and isn’t a sudden or twitchy ball carrier. Pearsall adjusts well for misplaced throws and does a good job high pointing the ball. His concentration at the catch point is impressive, and he shows otherworldly flashes of elite tracking and ball skills. Pearsall rarely drops the ball. He fights to land and sustain blocks and sprung a couple of big plays against LSU (2023). Unfortunately, his limited play strength and middling frame lead to him being pushed around as a blocker at times. Pearsall struggles to play through contact at the line of scrimmage and mid-route. He needs to use his hands more in his release package to negate concerns against press coverage. The former three-star recruit is bumped off his routes by contact. He struggled to separate against Tykee Smith and Georgia’s other NFL-caliber defensive backs when facing man coverage (2023). Pearsall could sell his out-and-up route better.
Overall, Pearsall is one of the most creative and sharp route runners in the 2024 class, and his ability to naturally separate gives him a high floor at the next level. However, his struggles playing through contact and breaking away from press coverage are legitimate concerns. Pearsall needs to be stronger and more assertive.
Role & Scheme Fit: Slot receiver (Y) in an 11 personnel heavy scheme
Round Projection: Late Third to Mid Fourth
Size: 6'1", 190 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 12-15-23