Florida, Kentucky both found immediate slot receiver help in transfer portal

Both Kentucky and Florida had receiving production to replace heading into 2022. Wan’Dale Robinson was a one-and-done in the Bluegrass after recording a program record 104 receptions. Following a coaching change, Jacob Copeland left Florida for Maryland.

Both SEC East programs needed to address wide receiver in the transfer portal after each lost a former top-100 recruit. The Gators and Wildcats each found a slot receiver who shined in Week 1.

Ricky Pearsall could be WR1 in Gainesville

Former low three-star recruit Ricky Pearsall committed to Arizona State, and the local product would spend three years playing at home in Tempe. The slot receiver has his best season in 2021 as a redshirt sophomore when Pearsall started 11 games for the Sun Devils. Pearsall led Arizona State in receptions (48), receiving yards (580), and receiving touchdowns (4) while playing with Jayden Daniels who is now QB1 at LSU.

After much coaching turnover in Tempe and the potential for NCAA trouble at any moment, Pearsall decided to enter the transfer portal. The receiver landed at Florida over the summer and was quickly made a starter during fall camp. Despite missing time with a foot injury during camp, Pearsall is still one of Anthony Richardson‘s top targets.

Against Utah, the slot receiver recorded four receptions of five targets for 67 yards serving as a dependable target over the middle of the field. Expect the redshirt junior to remain an integral part of Billy Napier’s new offense.

Tayvion Robinson provides explosive playmaking

After recording 44 receptions for 559 yards and five touchdowns as a junior at Virginia Tech, Tayvion Robinson decided to enter the transfer portal after three seasons in the ACC. The transfer landed at Kentucky as the next receiver the Cats would use in the slot.

Playing with a couple of other young starters, Kentucky was dependent on Robinson being good right away. The veteran provided the goods against Miami (Ohio).

Excited to see how Kentucky gets WR Tayvion Robinson involved this season…

Dynamic, speedy playmaker at WR transferred from VaTech. Feels like he's taking over the Wan'Dale Robinson role

Will Levis Play Action vs Miami (OH): 7/13 148yds, 1 TD pic.twitter.com/sNuqz8Vt2n

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) September 5, 2022

Robinson had six receptions on eight targets for 136 yards with a pair of catch runs that covered over 40-plus yards. Wan’Dale Robinson only had three games last year that went for over 130 receiving yards, and those didn’t happen until the end of the season.

Kentucky is expected to have a more balanced passing attack this year under new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello, but it’s clear that the No. 1 WR for the offense is in the slot as Tayvion Robinson seems primed for a big senior season.