Image Credit: Hannah White, UAA
As the Florida Gators retooled their roster under new head coach Billy Napier, one of the key newcomers expected to make an immediate impact was junior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. That level of contribution was put in doubt early this week when Pearsall suffered a foot injury during practice Tuesday.
However, Pearsall appears to have avoided major injury as doctors diagnosed him with bone bruises, according to 247Sports’ Jacob Rudner, who first reported the injury. As such, Pearsall is day to day; he will be able to return to practice once he can do so without pain.
Pearsall, a former three-star prospect, hauled in 48 balls for 580 yards and four touchdowns — he rushed and passed for a total of two more — last season in the first significant action he saw in his collegiate career. Arizona State’s top receiver in 2021, he led the program in every key category.
With the Gators lacking depth at pass catcher, Pearsall is expected to step in as a starter this season, a battle he is in the progress of attempting to win just over one week into training camp.
Napier said last week that he expected the competition at wide receiver to continue into the season with starters potentially changing on a weekly basis due to a lack of separation between players at similar spots in their development.