The 2024 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall plans on taking full advantage. Pearsall recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Pearsall also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his abilities as a route runner, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Pearsall better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Ricky Pearsall: I received my invite towards the end of practice. We were doing some punt return drills. Coach Billy Napier likes to stand next to the punt returners. Coach kinda tapped me on the shoulder as I was getting ready to field a punt and told me that he had something for me in his office. I returned a punt, ran back to him, and was like, “you have something for me?”
I went to see coach Napier in his office. I didn't think anything of it. He pulled out the Senior Bowl invite. We both celebrated with one another. It was an amazing moment. The year that coach Napier came in, that’s the year he brought me in. Coach Napier and I have a close relationship. That Senior Bowl invite felt like a big accomplishment for both of us because it’s something we talked about when outlining my goals before the season. It was a great moment.
JM: That’s an incredible story. What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Ricky Pearsall: Honestly, the confidence that I have in myself. That was the deciding factor. It’s another opportunity for me to go out there and prove what I’m capable of to all the scouts or doubters.
I’m very confident in my football abilities. I’m obviously a great athlete. I think highly of myself. Ultimately, it comes down to how great of a football player you are when you get on the grass. I feel like I have a lot of talent to display.
Seeing me on film versus seeing me in person are two totally different things. I think I look a lot faster in person. I know what the scouts want to see from me as a receiver. The Senior Bowl is another opportunity for NFL scouts to watch me live.
JM: Getting a bit more specific, what are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Ricky Pearsall: That I’m one of the best receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft. That’s the simple way of putting things. I think there’s some question marks they have on me. I don’t necessarily agree with everything I’ve heard. This is a great opportunity for me to go out there and prove myself.
I know I’m an elite route runner. I want to go out there, be technically sound, and prove that. Obviously, I think I’m a lot quicker, faster, and more athletic than they say I am. I think I’m a receiving threat. I just want to impose my will on the competition in Mobile.
JM: So if you were writing your own scouting report, how would you describe your skill set in your own words? Self-scout yourself.
Ricky Pearsall: First and foremost, I’m a workhorse. I think I have that going for me. I’ve improved every single season. I’m a very consistent, detail-oriented worker. Like I said earlier, I’m an elite route-runner. I know how to set defenders up with my routes. I really understand the art of route-running.
I also think I have really good speed and overall athletic ability. A lot of people don’t know about that, but they’re going to find out very soon. I’m excited to prove them wrong. When it comes down to it, I think I’m a great all-around receiver. I can be an asset to any of the 32 NFL teams.
JM: Speaking of routes, does Ricky Pearsall have a favorite route to run?
Ricky Pearsall: I get this question a lot. I really don’t. Every route helps set up another route. I feel like my route running improves throughout the course of a game. I love every route. I think they all set each other up. I just love running routes in general.
JM: You took a huge step forward this season, recording career-highs in receptions (65) and receiving yards (965). What changed for Ricky Pearsall in 2023?
Ricky Pearsall: Getting with the quarterback and putting in work to build our chemistry. Staying consistent in your work ethic is the key. I knew what my end goal was and I worked towards it. I always kept that in the front of my mind. I knew what I wanted, but it wasn’t easy.
I had to go out there and put the work in. I have to give props to our entire system at Florida. The quarterback Graham Mertz put the work in with me. It’s funny you say that I took a huge step. I still feel like I have so much more to prove. I haven’t reached my ceiling. I’m excited about that.
JM: If you had to compare yourself to a current NFL receiver, who would you choose and why?
Ricky Pearsall: That’s a tough question. I don’t think I can compare myself to anybody. I never think two players are exactly alike. That’s the unique part about playing football. Everybody is different, especially at receiver. Everybody breaks their routes down differently. I don’t really think there’s a comp for me out there.
I do take a lot of things from different receivers though. I watch the greats like Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, Keenan Allen, and Justin Jefferson. I watch all of the talented guys and try to steal a little something from their game. What makes you a great receiver is how versatile you are.
JM: Learning from the greats makes sense. What can you achieve at the Senior Bowl that you can’t at other pre-draft events?
Ricky Pearsall: All of the other pre-draft events are really just about the testing. We’re actually playing football at the Senior Bowl. We’re going out there on grass to compete. Going out there and proving that you’re a great football player is the most important aspect of the pre-draft process. That’s what the scouts want to see. At the end of the day, we’re playing football. You don’t run the 40-yard dash on Sundays. It’s about practicing, playing, and competing one-versus-one.
JM: What’s on Ricky Pearsall’s pre-game playlist?
Ricky Pearsall: That’s tough. I have all kinds of things. I have Lil’ Baby, NBA Youngboy, Drake, NoCap, and Rylo Rodriguez. I have all of those guys. It’s a pretty extensive playlist (laughs).
JM: At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Ricky Pearsall?
Ricky Pearsall: It’s all about going out there and proving who I am. I need to make sure that I put everybody on notice. A successful Senior Bowl means I proved the points I know I’m capable of proving. That’s my main thing.
