Where's Ricky? Absence of Gators WR after stellar combine performance highlights Thursday's Pro Day

Five Gators football players held a valuable opportunity to improve their draft stock Thursday when UF hosted its 2024 Pro Day.

QB Micah Leon, RB Eddie Battle, TE Griffin McDowell, and OLs Lyndell Hudson and Kingsley Eguakun performed drills in front of scouts from 30 NFL teams and one CFL team.

Florida’s most notable prospect – WR Ricky Pearsall – chose not to compete Thursday due to a stellar combine showing last month.

Here’s what happened on Pro Day:

Where was Ricky?

Pearsall made it official Wednesday morning that he intended to skip Pro Day.

“I kept going back and forth, to be honest,” Pearsall said. “Just talking to my team and my people in my corner and my foundation. We just thought it was the best idea for myself.”

The 23-year-old redshirt senior shined and impressed scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month in Indianapolis. He clocked in a 4.41-second score in the 40-yard dash, and a 42-inch vertical and 10-feet, 9-inches horizontal jump.

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“It feels good to be able to show those kinds of things at the combine,” Pearsall said. “For me, I just want to show I’m a great football player. So, when that time comes, just happy for that.”

These eye-popping numbers caused him to shoot up draft boards. CBS Sports most recent Mock Draft has Pearsall going 63^rd overall to the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers.

Other teams have been linked to the receiver, and he was spotted at Pro Day speaking to a scout from the Vikings. Minnesota doesn’t hold a second- or third-round pick, but it does have the 11^th and 23^rd selections. The Steelers also reportedly met with Pearsall.

Pearsall knows his stock rose, but he tries to avoid the attention.

“I’m hearing different things. I just try to leave that up to my agent to decipher,” Pearsall said. “For me, I’m just grinding each and every day and how I can get better today.”

Florida coach Billy Napier said he supports Pearsall’s decision.

“Sometimes you don’t feel great about your skill, but he did it all, and he feels good about it,” Napier said. “I think the feedback from all 32 teams has been really positive.”

More than just ‘The Catch’

The moment most Gator fans link to Pearsall and his two years in Gainesville was a jaw-dropping one-handed catch made last season vs Charlotte.

Turns out, some scouts only know him for the catch. While the WR said he’s proud of the moment, he wants to be known for more.

“I'm like, ‘You guys got to watch the tape. There's more than just that one catch.’ I’ve made a lot of catches,” Pearsall said.

When he does speak about it, Pearsall noted most are more impressed by him holding onto the ball despite the contact.

“I think for the contact is what it is, you know what I mean?” Pearsall said. “A lot of people make good one-handed catches, but to go through contact like that I feel like is another thing.”

Pearsall's athleticism shines

Pearsall transferred to Florida from Arizona State for his last two years. The move paid off as he tallied 98 catches for 1,626 yards and nine TDs with Anthony Richardson and Graham Mertz under center.

Napier said Pearsall refined his game with release and route running.

“Ricky is a product of his work,” Napier said. “He’s a great example to all other players in terms of how to take care of yourself. He’s a very process-oriented guy.”

His route running excellence was known, but the combine allowed the receiver to show off his athleticism.

“That all that was a surprise to them. It wasn't a surprise to me,” Pearsall said. “As much as I wanted to prove them wrong, I just was trying to prove myself right.”

His stats jumped up from 2022 to 2023. He elevated from 661 receiving yards to 965 and doubled his catches from 33 to 65. The 965 rank seventh in the SEC.

All in all, Pearsall believes he’s a consistent and competitive player.

“I feel like a lot of teams want competitors, and that's what football is,” Pearsall said.

Kingsley Eguakun looks to overcome injury woes

The Gators offensive lineman hoped to spend his fifth year awing NFL teams, but instead, he spent much of it on the sideline due to a myriad of injuries.

“When I was playing, I wasn’t at my full self, so that wasn’t the best” Eguakan said. “You can’t dwell on things that you can’t control. Now, I can just make the most of opportunities at this point.”

Eguakun now looks to be a Day 3 selection. His performance at the Senior Bowl on February 3, where he started at Center, drew attention and gave him confidence again.

“It reminded me of who I am and showed them what I’m able to do against guys who I would be competing with for the next 10 years,” Eguakan said. “It was all positive feedback.”

Kingsley competed in most events and started off well with a 32 inch vertical jump and a nine feet, one inch horizontal.

However, he struggled a bit in the short shuttle and was forced to redo it multiple times.

Kingsley was a three year starter, and in Napier’s eyes, that contains meaning in a conference such as the SEC.

“This league is the closest thing to the NFL. He’s blocked a lot of these guys that have played at the next level,” Napier said. “The injury part was tough, but he’s got a skill set that’ll apply to the next level.”

Florida continues spring practice Saturday, with the Orange and Blue Game on Saturday, April 13.

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football hosts Pro Day with Ricky Pearsall and Kinglsey Eguakan