Every year it seems, there’s a slept-on Receiver that goes day two and turns out to be a star. Of all the day-two Receivers, Ricky Pearsall seems to be the best candidate for that surprise breakout we see every year. While he has some physical limitations, the guy ran a 4.41 and displayed some of the best routes out of all these prospects. Being a white Receiver, many will just assume he’s a Slot guy. He can certainly play in the Slot but has traits to also be a good deep threat at the next level. Pearsall had solid production in the SEC, but most of all, he passed the eye test. In this article, we’ll go over what makes him such an underrated prospect and why he may have one of the best rookie seasons on offense.
Four all-22 games and his highlights were evaluated, and clips from his film are broken down here. All relevant traits were graded based on his film. His scouting report also factored in stats and analytics, such as PFF grades. Use promo code TREYSCHNEIDER on Underdog Fantasy to match your deposit up to $100. Please gamble responsibly and leave your feedback on Twitter @FBIntellect.
| Profile |
|---|
| 7th WR / 1-2 RD | 6’1″ / 189 | RS-SR | Florida |
| Pro Comp |
|---|
| Chris Olave |
| Scheme |
|---|
| Vertical/ Slot |
Ricky Pearsall’s Receiving Stats
| 2023 | |
|---|---|
| REC: 65 YDS: 963 | TD: 4 YAC: 374 |
| 2022 | |
|---|---|
| REC: 34 YDS: 669 | TD: 5 YAC: 163 |
Film Analysis
Ricky Pearsall runs an excellent post route against off-zone coverage in the clip above. In addition, he shows off an incredible vertical jump to go up and highpoint it. He gets the DB off balance with a slight stutter step and smoothly breaks on the post. This is all around what you want to see from a deep threat.
Pearsall runs a pro-level route here by faking the inside post and quickly cutting out. He knows to gain enough space against the Slot, he must fake cut hard on the inside which he does. Having this type of stop-turn ability is rare for a perimeter player.
This play isn’t anything special but shows he has the ideal ball-tracking ability to be a deep threat and that he can beat man coverage.
Just watch the hips on this beautiful double move by Pearsall. He effortlessly changes direction on the fake move to the outside leaving the DB in the dust.
Grades
OVR Grade: 1-100
| Individual trait scale (1-7): |
|---|
| 7 – Rare world-class skill; best in the league and no room for improvement | 6 – Great-elite skill; one of the best at that given trait but still has some room to improve | 5 – Very good; above average and has potential to be elite | 4 – Average; able to suffice but, not ideal long-term | 3 – Below average; able to suffice at college level | 2 – Poor; hinders overall play and is a liability to the team | 1 – Awful; not good enough to play given position at any level above D2 | Note: Consistency plays a large factor. |
| Overall Draft grade scale (1-100, realistically: 57-87): |
|---|
| 86 – Perfect prospect | 81 – Likely all-pro | 80 – Bluechip prospect | 79 – Day one quality starter or superstar potential | 78 – Day one starter w/ all-pro upside | 77 – Day one starter w/ high-end upside | 76 – Day One Starter | 75 – Boom or bust | 74 – Will become quality starter within 2-3 years | 73 – Boom or bust (high risk) | 72 – Will become starter within 2-3 years | 71 – Day-one backup with starter upside |
SPD – Speed
ACC – Acceleration
AGI – Agility
STR – Strength
VER – Vertical (Height/ Jumping)
DRP – Drop (While Open)
CIT – Catch In Traffic
DFC – Difficult Catch (Catch Radius)
REL – Release
SRR – Short Route Running
MRR – Intermediate Route Running
DRR – Deep Route Running
RAC – Run After Catch
IQ – Football IQ
SEC – Ball Security
RBK – Run Blocking
Traits/ Skills
(Grades are subject to change until draft day.)
| Traits | Immediate | Potential |
| SPD | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| ACC | 6 | 6 |
| AGI | 6.2 | 6.4 |
| STR | 4.8 | 5 |
| VER | 6 | 6 |
| DRP | 5.1 | 6.3 |
| CIT | 4.6 | 5.5 |
| DFC | 4.8 | 5.4 |
| REL | 4.1 | 5.4 |
| SRR | 4.2 | 5.8 |
| MRR | 4.6 | 5.9 |
| DRR | 4.6 | 5.7 |
| RAC | 5 | 5.2 |
| IQ | 4.5 | 6 |
| SEC | 4.3 | 5.3 |
| RBK | 3.8 | 4.9 |
Ricky Pearsall’s Pros And Cons
- Ricky Peasall lacks true number-one upside but can be a dependable Z Receiver for a modern-spread offense. With borderline elite quickness and a refined route tree, he is the flexible piece many teams look for.
Pros
- Enters the league with a full-fledged route tree and flashed the ability to pull off effective double moves.
- Stellar stop-turn ability and rapid change of direction give him the potential to be an exceptional route runner.
- Good enough speed and ball tracking to be a dependable deep threat.
- Has as smooth hips as you’ll typically ever see in someone 6’1″ or taller.
- High IQ Receiver who knows how to manipulate leverage against zone coverage.
- Good height paired with vertical jump allows him to elevate for 50/50 balls.
- Elite foot quickness helps him beat press against the less lengthy Corners.
- Sticky hands and doesn’t drop it often – three percent drop rate in 2023.
Cons
- Lack of arm length and physicality at the catch point hinders him as a deep threat.
- Just a solid RAC threat which isn’t ideal for his prototype; lacks contact balance.
- A fifth-year senior who’ll be 24 to start the year.
Combine
40 yd: 4.41
Ten yd: 1.57
Shuttle: 4.05
Three Cone: 6.64
Broad Jump: 10’9″
Vertical: 42″
Bench: 17
Arm length: 30 7/8″
Hand Size: 9 1/4″
Pro Day
40 yd:
Ten yd:
Shuttle:
Three Cone:
Broad Jump:
Vertical:
Bench:
Arm length:
Hand Size:
All-22 Exposures
- Georgia, 2023
- LSU, 2023
- South Carolina, 2023
- Utah, 2023
Final Conclusion on Ricky Pearsall
If you’re a team looking for a potential alpha at Receiver, Ricky Pearsall isn’t your guy. However, in the second round, it’s hard to find quality day-one starters and that’s what Pearsall is. I don’t see him ever being an elite deep threat or someone with dominant ball skills, but I do see someone who can produce at a high level if schemed up properly. With his lack of arm length and average ability to beat press coverage, you want him lined up outside off the line a few yards or in the Slot. In that role with a high-end QB and offensive coordinator, his production could skyrocket.
It’s not like his potential is poor either as he is genuinely fast and possesses immense upside as a route runner. If he can go somewhere where he has good chemistry with the QB and is utilized properly in the motion game, he can thrive. The reason he’s not a true first-rounder is he won’t be anything special if thrown into an unconducive situation. It’s not like Rome Odunze where you can draft him on a team with an unproven QB and coordinator and still expect him to dominate. Still, if he goes to a situation like Puka Nacua did with LA, you may be striking gold by drafting him.
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