Ricky Pearsall excited for new role as outside WR, punt returner

NASHVILLE — Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall, back with the Gators as a fifth-year senior, is excited for his expanded role in 2023. He’s the highest-graded returner on offense, per PFF.

Pearsall is the lone returning starter at his position, although he will play a new WR spot this season, and he’ll also start on special teams.

At SEC Media Days, Pearsall told Gators Online that he’s now going to return punts. Xzavier Henderson was UF’s punt returner last season, but he transferred to Cincinnati.

“I’m taking it over. For sure,” Pearsall said with a grin. “We were doing punt returns (Tuesday) and I just ran down the field telling people, ‘This is what I’m most excited for.’ I always knew I could return punts. It’s in the blood. My dad used to return punts in college.”

Pearsall’s father, Ricky Pearsall Sr., played college football at Northern Arizona.

In 1996, Pearsall earned All-America recognition as a returner. Against Western New Mexico, he set an FCS record for most punt return yards in a game with 216. His 490 punt return yards that season remain a school record.

Pearsall had a punt return in Florida’s spring game and returned four punts for 27 yards (6.75 avg.) last season.

“Obviously it’s a nerve-wracking position to play, but I’m going to be the guy to do it,” Pearsall said. “I did deal with my foot injury early on last season. Early on, we were planning to have me as the punt returner, but obviously it didn’t work out because of the circumstances at play. It was just more a load (management) kind of thing.”

Pearsall playing outside WR

In addition to punt return duties, Pearsall will also be playing a new WR spot on offense. He started in the slot last season but lined up exclusively at outside receiver in the spring game.

That was by design.

“I barely played in the slot in the spring game for a reason. Actually, all of spring I really played outside receiver,” Pearsall revealed to Gators Online at SEC Media Days. “It was kind of spring thing because I’ve been repping slot way more than I rep the outside receiver, so they obviously want me to get more reps at outside receiver as well. Just being the versatile player that I know I am and being able to show it.

“It is different being in the slot and being an outside receiver. Not a lot of guys can go in the slot and play outside receiver and not even notice a difference. So being able to keep on repping that and be comfortable in both positions, even though I thought I was anyway, I just love it.”

The Arizona State transfer led the Gators last year with a team-high 661 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 33 catches. Pearsall said Napier, wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales and assistant David Doeker approached him this offseason about playing more outside receiver, and he embraced it.

“It was a mutual thing. They mentioned it, I mentioned it and then it just kind of happened,” Pearsall said. “There are different signalers for different positions. Some of the outside signalers like Coach Deck, he really wanted me to come out there and play outside with him as well. But it was kind of more of mutual thing.

“Obviously me, I’m going to press the issue to play everywhere just because I know I can. That’s going to benefit us in every situation, and I don’t want to get off the field. So, if we call 12 personnel, I’m outside guy. And when we’re 12 personnel, we can set up formations where I’m in the slot. So, just being versatile with it.”