Ricky Pearsall

American football player (born 2000)

American football player
NFL draft:2024 / round: 1 / pick: 31Career history
  • San Francisco 49ers (2024–present)
Roster status:Reserve/NFIPlayer stats at PFR

Richard Pearsall Jr. (born September 9, 2000 is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and Florida Gators. Pearsall was drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

He was shot in the chest during a botched robbery attempt over his Rolex watch in San Francisco on August 31, 2024[1] and was released from the hospital the following day.[2] On September 2, 2024, he was placed on the reserve/NFI list.[3]

Early life and high school

Pearsall was born on September 9, 2000, in Phoenix, Arizona.[4] He grew up in nearby Chandler, Arizona, and attended Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Arizona.[5] As a junior, he set the Arizona High School 6A receiving yard record for a single game with 342 on 14 receptions against Gilbert High School.[6] Pearsall finished the season with 74 receptions for 1,153 yards and 15 touchdowns.[7] Pearsall was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Arizona State over offers from Air Force, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, and UC Davis.[8][9]

College career

Pearsall began his college career at Arizona State. He had seven receptions for 128 yards as a freshman.[10] Pearsall played in all four of the Sun Devils' games in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 Pac-12 season and caught six passes for 86 yards and one touchdown.[11] Pearsall had 48 receptions for 580 yards and a team-high four receiving touchdowns as a junior.[12] After the 2021 season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal.[13]

Pearsall ultimately transferred to Florida after also considering Oregon.[14][15] He suffered from a foot injury during training camp, but recovered prior to the start of the 2022 season.[16][17] Pearsall had five receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Florida State.[18] Pearsall finished the 2022 season with 33 receptions for 661 yards and five touchdowns.[19] In the 2023 season, Pearsall had 65 receptions for 965 yards and four touchdowns.[20]

College statistics
Season Games Receiving Rushing
GP GS Rec Yards Avg TD Att Yards Avg TD
Arizona State Sun Devils
2019 13 0 7 128 18.3 0 1 1 1.0 0
2020 4 1 6 86 14.3 1 3 33 11.0 1
2021 13 11 48 580 12.1 4 6 44 7.3 1
Florida Gators
2022 13 10 33 661 20.0 5 8 113 14.1 1
2023 12 12 65 965 14.8 4 3 62 20.7 2
Career 44 23 102 1,547 15.2 10 18 191 10.6 5

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1 in
(1.85 m) 		189 lb
(86 kg) 		30+7⁄8 in
(0.78 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.41 s 1.57 s 2.53 s 4.05 s 6.64 s 42.0 in
(1.07 m)		 10 ft 9 in
(3.28 m)		 17 reps
All values from NFL Combine[21][22]

Pearsall was selected in the first round by the San Francisco 49ers with the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.[23] On June 21, 2024, Pearsall signed a four-year rookie contract with the 49ers.[24] On September 2, Pearsall was placed on the reserve/NFI list following a gunshot wound to the chest.[25]

Shooting

On August 31, 2024, a 17-year-old male from Tracy, California, allegedly attempting to steal Pearsall's Rolex watch,[26] shot Pearsall in the chest.[1] The robbery occurred in the afternoon in Union Square, San Francisco.[27] He was reportedly en route to an autograph signing event.[26] There was a struggle for the gun, and both Pearsall and the suspect were shot.[26] He was transported to San Francisco General Hospital for treatment and was released the next day after his condition was upgraded from serious to fair.[2] Nine days after the shooting, Pearsall had recovered enough to appear on the sidelines of the 49ers' season opener against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium, and to warm applause from the crowd, presented signed 49ers jerseys to the police officer and trauma surgeon who had saved his life.[28]

Personal life

Pearsall's father, Ricky Pearsall Sr., is a captain within the Phoenix Fire Department and played college football at Northern Arizona.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b DiFeliciantonio, Chase; Vaziri, Aidin; Leonard, Christian; Toledo, Aldo (August 31, 2024). "49ers' Ricky Pearsall shot in chest during S.F. Union Square robbery". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Barrows, Matt; Puleo, Mark (September 1, 2024). "49ers' Ricky Pearsall released from hospital after being shot, did not require surgery: Source". The Athletic (The New York Times). Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "49ers Place Ricky Pearsall on Reserve/Non-Football Injury List and More Roster Moves". 49ers.com. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2024 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 59. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  5. ^ Gardner, Michelle (October 15, 2019). "ASU's Ricky Pearsall Jr. appreciates chance to play for hometown team". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  6. ^ Obert, Richard (October 14, 2017). "Corona WR Ricky Pearsall Jr. Arizona high school receiving record". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Rabino, Hod (June 18, 2018). "Local wide receiver Ricky Pearsall commits to the Sun Devils". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  8. ^ Kern, Mason (December 19, 2018). "Getting to know: Ricky Pearsall". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  9. ^ Kaye, Jordan (June 18, 2018). "ASU Football: Corona Del Sol wide receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. commits to Arizona State". HouseOfSparky.com. SB Nation. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Ricky Pearsall 2019 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  11. ^ Haller, Doug (October 6, 2021). "Arizona State's Ricky Pearsall is on a breakout trajectory his father set for him long ago: 'It's about time'". The Athletic. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  12. ^ Thompson, Edgar (August 5, 2022). "Ricky Pearsall catches on as Florida Gators' No. 1 receiver". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  13. ^ Gardner, Michelle (April 21, 2022). "Arizona State football loses 2 key players to transfer portal". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  14. ^ Scarborough, Alex (May 21, 2022). "Florida Gators land commitment from Arizona State receiver Ricky Pearsall". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  15. ^ Taylor, G. Allen (May 25, 2022). "Why did Ricky Pearsall pick Florida over Oregon? 'It came down to Billy Napier and his staff,' father says". The Athletic. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  16. ^ Brockway, Kevin (August 11, 2022). "Florida Gators WR Ricky Pearsall in walking boot, other notes from practice". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  17. ^ Goodall, Zach (September 8, 2022). "Gators WR Ricky Pearsall Making Anthony Richardson's Job Easier". SI.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "Ricky Pearsall returning to Florida: Star receiver to play senior season with Gators after mulling options". OnlyGators.com. January 14, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  19. ^ Rudner, Jacob (December 18, 2022). "Pearsall uncertain of future with one year of eligibility remaining". 247Sports.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  20. ^ "Ricky Pearsall 2023 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  21. ^ "Ricky Pearsall Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  22. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Ricky Pearsall College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  23. ^ Pallares, Lindsey (April 26, 2024). "49ers Select WR at No. 31 Overall; 3 Takeaways from Day 1 of the NFL Draft". 49ers.com. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  24. ^ "49ers Sign WR Ricky Pearsall to a Four-Year Deal". 49ers.com. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  25. ^ "49ers Place Ricky Pearsall on Reserve/Non-Football Injury List and More Roster Moves". 49ers.com. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  26. ^ a b c Dajani, Jordan (September 1, 2024). "49ers' Ricky Pearsall shot, in stable condition after robbery attempt in San Francisco". CBSSports.com. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  27. ^ Florio, Mike (August 31, 2024). "Report: Ricky Pearsall shot during robbery". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  28. ^ Schilken, Chuck (September 10, 2024). "49ers' Ricky Pearsall honors first responders to his shooting". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  29. ^ Thompson, Edgar (September 9, 2022). "In Billy Napier, Gators receiver Ricky Pearsall trusts — and vice versa". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
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