In the Gators’ game against the Charlotte 49ers, senior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall found a pocket of space. He stuck his arm out and leaped — almost imitating the Jordan Jumpman logo on his jersey — and brought down the ball for one of the best catches of the 2023 season.
“How about that catch, huh?” said UF head coach Bill Napier after the game Saturday. “That was one for the books right there for sure.”
The catch led to a field goal in UF’s 22-7 win against Charlotte. The spectacular catch from Pearsall represented the connection and confidence shared between the senior wide receiver and redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz.
Mertz and Pearsall’s connection has helped UF during its three-game win streak that has Florida at No. 22 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 and a 3-1, 1-0 SEC record.
Pearsall, who transferred to UF last season from Arizona State, is on pace to have more catches and receiving yards than he did in his first season in Gainesville.
The decision to return to Florida for his senior season has paid early dividends with a new quarterback throwing him the ball.
“He came back to improve his stock for the draft, and he's doing it,” Napier said. “Not to mention the leadership and the character that he brings every day, the work habits.”
The senior wideout has 26 receptions, 362 receiving yards and one touchdown. In three of his four games, he’s caught passes for more than 90 receiving yards. His goal now is just to build off of his consistent play, he said.
“Got to keep having that chip on my shoulder, and going into practice and grinding every single day and getting better at something each and every day,” Pearsall said Saturday after the Charlotte game.
Despite his improvements so far this season, Pearsall does not want to get caught up in his play because he knows he can still improve, he said.
“I reflect on those games in more of like a learning standpoint,” he said. “Sometimes numbers and things like that may look better than they are, but I'm my biggest critic. So when I look at the tape, I'm like, I could have done this better.”
His 90.5 receiving yards per game through four games this season is currently his career-best both at UF and Arizona State. Pearsall also is top ten in the SEC in receptions and receiving yards for this season.
“This guy is a very underrated player,” Napier said. “He is one of the best receivers in the entire country.”
His success can also be attributed to Mertz, who Pearsall said throws a very catchable ball and praised his arm talent and work ethic.
“That guy loves football,” Pearsall said. “He's just one of those guys that really wants it that bad, and you can tell, and hard work pays off obviously what he's been doing on the field.”
Mertz has also taken a major leap through four games with the Gators. His 77.8% completion percentage ranks first in the SEC and fourth nationally among quarterbacks who have thrown more than 50 pass attempts.
“I think it's a flow thing,” Mertz said in a Monday press conference. “For me, it just goes back to doing my job and doing it on a consistent basis.”
The Wisconsin transfer emphasized how important it is just to execute every week and be patient behind center, he said.
“When a team zones us out, taking what they give you,” Mertz said. “It's easy to want to force the ball down the field into double coverage, but it's not smart.”
Mertz played 34 games at his former school and started the entire regular season his past two seasons. In his last two seasons, he had a 59.5% completion percentage in 2021 and a 57.3% percentage in 2022.
Napier praised the precision of his veteran quarterback. He emphasized how Mertz’s approach and leadership have been positive and have made the team better, Napier added.
“He's just having fun playing the game,” Napier said in a Monday press conference. “It makes me want to play again, to be quite honest. He's just in the moment.”
Through four games, he’s thrown for 976 yards, four touchdowns and only one interception.
“One of the most gratifying things as a coach is when a guy works extremely hard and he gets the result,” Napier said. “Man, this is unbelievable.”
Mertz attributed his improvement to the coaching staff and the attention to detail they give to each and every single one of his throws, he said.
The Overland Park, Kansas, product said he's been grateful for the chance to move and play for UF after four seasons with the Badgers.
“I owe this university everything I got, and I try to hold that every day,” Mertz said. “That's what wakes me up every day.”
Mertz also attributed his play to the guys in the wide receiver room. He emphasized how Pearsall’s catch has got to be the catch of the year, he said, but those are the plays he’s used to from UF’s skill group.
“That's just what our receivers in that room do, like they just make crazy catches all week,” Mertz said.
The two share praises of each other, and Mertz pointed out how making big plays is something Pearsall is used to.
“That's what kind of player he is,” Mertz said. “He's a difference maker.”
The Gators will take on the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Contact Jackson Reyes at jacksonreyes@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @JacksnReyes.
Jackson Reyes is a UF journalism senior and The Alligator's Fall 2023 Sports Editor. He previously served as Digital Managing Editor and was a reporter and assistant editor on the sports desk. In his free time, he enjoys collecting records, long walks on the beach and watching Bo Nix.
