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Ricky Pearsall Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell
Strengths:
- Natural wide receiver; pure football player
- Excellent route-runner; sudden out of breaks
- Explosive out of cuts
- Dangerous run-after-the-catch skills
- Second-gear speed
- Can challenge defenses deep
- Quick release off of the line
- First-step quickness
- Body control
- Quick feet
- Leaping ability
- Late hands
- High points the ball well
- Excellent hands; very reliable to make the catch
- Instinctive; good feel
- Dangerous on 50-50 passes
- Red-zone and third-down weapon
- Willing blocker
- Adept at finding soft spots in zone
- Can defeat double teams
- Good athleticism
- Durable
- Experienced; ready to contribute quickly
- Excelled against elite competition
Weaknesses:
- Good, but not great, speed
- Good, but not great, size
Prospect Summary:
Pearsall started out his college career at Arizona State, where he was horribly under-utilized. He totaled 13 catches over 2019 and 2020, but in 2021, he saw more opportunities and caught 48 passes for 580 yards and four touchdowns. Pearsall transferred to Florida for 2022, where he was instantly the No. 1 wide receiver for Anthony Richardson. That season, Pearsall brought in 33 receptions for 661 yards and five touchdowns. He would have had an even bigger season, but Richardson was very streaky and inaccurate. Pearsall returned to the Gators for his senior year and caught 65 passes for 965 yards and four touchdowns. He played better than the numbers illustrated, and after the season, he turned in an excellent week of practice at the Senior Bowl.
Pearsall’s ability to separate from coverage is his standout trait. He is a superb route-runner who displays suddenness in and out of his breaks and has a burst to accelerate after a cut. Cornerbacks struggle to run with him, and he is consistent about creating separation. Pearsall is presents a threat to get open on the short to intermediate routes, running slants, crosses, digs and outs to be a reliable chain mover for his offense.
On top of getting open, Pearsall runs well after the catch, using a second gear to run away from defenders. Pearsall will do some cutting to dodge would-be tacklers, but he is inclined to be a North-South runner. Pearsall has enough speed to get vertical and can challenge defenses deep down the field. Pearsall has good hands, tracks the ball well, and displays superior body control to make acrobatic catches over defensive backs. Along with being a vertical threat, Pearsall should be a good third-down weapon in the NFL given his ability to get open on short to intermediate routes.
Pearsall is not overly big or fast, but he is simply a good football player. Entering the NFL, he is a polished route-runner who could contribute quickly. Pearsall could fit as a X – split end – receiver and also has the ability to be a flanker or a slot receiver.
In the NFL, Pearsall could be a superb No. 2 receiver who could become a perennial Pro Bowler. He is worthy of being a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Prospect Comparison:
Chris Godwin. Pearsall’s combination of size, quickness, and route-running remind me of Godwin. Godwin was a second-day pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and Pearsall has the ability to be a dangerous starter and an excellent second-day value pick like Godwin was.
RELATED LINKS:
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
