Teammates break down Florida Gators quarterback battle

There may not be a player more interested in the Florida Gators quarterback battle than senior receiver Ricky Pearsall. The Arizona State transfer could have entered the 2023 NFL Draft but he chose to come back to school. He felt like he had more to prove but he can’t throw himself the football, so he’s keeping a close eye on Florida’s ongoing quarterback competition.

Pearsall has a lot to gain or lose this season. He made his decision to return in January, a few weeks after Graham Mertz made the decision to transfer to Florida. Pearsall studied Graham Mertz and knew what Jack Miller was as a quarterback. That also played a role in his return to Florida for his final year of eligibility.

“Those are two really talented humans. They’re both locked in,” Pearsall said at SEC Media Days. “They’re both embracing the competition. They’re competing on a day-to-day basis. If that’s in the weight room, film room, even when they’re with the guys because I feel like the quarterback it’s super important to have the team behind you, the O-line behind you. Those guys are just going at it on a day-to-day basis. We have faith in both of them.”

Gators break down both quarterbacks

Ricky Pearsall on Graham Mertz:

“The experience and how mature of a guy he is. One thing that immediately stood out to me is how smart he is, his IQ on the field. As soon as I met him we started talking about different coverages, different routes during different coverages. That stood out to me. He’s a really good friend to me, too.”

Ricky Pearsall on Jack Miller:

“He has really good arm talent. Me and him actually go way back because he’s also an Arizona kid, so I’ve known him a long time and throwing with him for a long time. He’s extremely talented, extremely smart, has a good head on his shoulders.”

Kingsley Eguakun weighs in

Nobody is closer to the quarterback than the center, literally. Kingsley Eguakun returns to Gainesville for his final year of eligibility. He started all 13 games at center in 2022 and is expected to do the same in 2023. He’s been at Florida since 2019. That means he’s seen Feleipe Franks, Kyle Trask, Emory Jones, and Anthony Richardson start games at quarterback during his career.

“I think we have some pretty talented guys at the quarterback position to be honest with you. I trust Coach Napier in his decision making ultimately, those guys have to battle it out this fall to see who’s going to want to be the guy,” Eguakun said. “But I think all those guys have the right mindset, from what I’ve seen they’ve all been attacking their summer grind, their summer workouts doing extra things to put themselves in play to be that guy.”

Working hard is part of the formula but doesn’t guarantee success. As an offensive lineman set to block for the fifth different quarterback in as many years, Eguakun didn’t take a firm stance on when he thinks it is important for Napier to name a starter.

“I think if they’re both preparing like the starter then it doesn’t really matter, to be honest with you. I think it’s going to be up to those guys to make sure no matter what the situation is whether you are running with the twos, the ones or the fives you need to attack it like you are going to be the starter for game one,” he said.

At the end of the day, I trust Coach Napier’s judgment and believe he’s going to put us in the best position to be successful.”