Thoughts of the Day: Ricky don't lose that number!

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

“Rikki don’t lose that number, it’s the only one you’ll own …” – From “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” from the Steely Dan album “Pretzel Logic” in 1974

Graphic Brenden Martin - Photo Chris Spears

Better yet, Graham Mertz, don’t you dare lose Ricky Pearsall. If he’s open, get him the football.

Four games into the 2023 season, the Mertz-to-Pearsall connection has become ever so vital to Florida’s success. Pearsall, who caught 33 passes for 661 yards and five touchdowns a year ago, has 26 receptions for 362 yards and one TD already. Saturday night against Charlotte, Pearsall made what might go down as the most spectacular catch any Florida receiver has made in years when he made a leaping, 1-handed snag of a Mertz pass for 25 yards, holding onto the ball even as two defenders simultaneously delivered rather nasty hits.

When he spoke to the media after the Gators (3-1, 1-0 SEC) finished off Charlotte, 22-7, Pearsall admitted he probably could have made the catch with two hands, just that he felt like grabbing the ball with one.

“I feel like I probably could have jumped up and grabbed it with two, but I don’t know what happens, but I just felt like doing it,” Pearsall said. “I don’t know how to describe it. In the moment, I just felt like doing it, so I just did. Good thing I came down with it.”

Pearsall makes the 1-handed grabs routinely in practice, a requirement of wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales. When the UF receivers are going 1-on-1 or scrimmaging against the defense the 1-handed catch is no longer a surprise.

Linebacker Shemar James was on the sideline when Pearsall made the spectacular catch that brought nearly all 89,053 fans in The Swamp out of their seats. While calling the catch “amazing,” James said it’s nothing different than he sees regularly on the practice field.

“He does that almost like every day, so I’m kind of used to it, like Ricky did it,” James said.

Billy Napier, who coached All-American wide receivers Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley when he was their position coach at Alabama (2013-16), thinks Pearsall ranks with the best receivers in the entire country.

“He’s bigger than you think,” Napier said Saturday night after Pearsall caught six passes for 104 yards. “He’s more explosive than you think. He came back to improve his stock for the draft and he’s doing it. Not to mention the leadership and the character that he brings every day, the work habits. Ricky is a very effective player because he’s highly skilled. He can get open at the line. He can separate at the top of the route and he’s got fantastic ball skills and hand selection.”

Saturday, it will be a necessity for Pearsall to get open early and often to loosen up a Kentucky (4-0, 1-0 SEC) defense that allows only 2.58 yards per rushing attempt. The Wildcats are going to dare the Gators to beat them through the air. If Mertz and Pearsall have a good game, the Gators should be in the hunt for their fourth consecutive win.

Gators ranked in both polls

Despite a rather lackluster performance in their 22-7 win over Charlotte, the Gators moved up on spot in the Associated Press poll to No. 22 and made their debut in the Coaches poll, landing at No. 22.

Georgia and Michigan remained 1-2 in both polls. Ohio State moved up two places to No. 4 in the AP poll to displace Florida State and up one place to No. 3 in the Coaches poll.

Associated Press top 25: 1. Georgia 4-0; 2. Michigan 4-0; 3. Texas 4-0; 4. Ohio State 4-0; 5. Florida State 4-0; 6. Penn State 4-0; 7. Washington 4-0; 8. Southern California 4-0; 9. Oregon 4-0; 10. Utah 4-0; 11. Notre Dame 4-1; 12. Alabama 3-1; 13. LSU 3-1; 14. Oklahoma 4-0; 15. North Carolina 4-0; 16. Washington State 4-0; 17. Duke 4-0; 18. Miami 4-0; 19. Oregon State 3-1; 20. Ole Miss 3-1; 21. Tennessee 3-1; 22. FLORIDA 3-1; 23. Missouri 4-0; 24. Kansas 4-0; 25. Fresno State 4-0

Coaches top 25: 1. Georgia 4-0; 2. Michigan 4-0; 3. Ohio State 4-0; 4. Florida State 4-0; 5. Texas 4-0; 6. Southern California 4-0; 7. Penn State 4-0; 8. Washington 4-0; 9. Oregon 4-0; 10. Utah 4-0; 11. Alabama 3-1; 12. LSU 3-1; 13. Notre Dame 4-1; 14. Oklahoma 4-0; 15. North Carolina 4-0; 16. Duke 4-0; 17. Washington State 4-0; 18. Miami 4-0; 19. Tennessee 3-1; 20. Ole Miss 3-1; 21. Oregon State 3-1; 22. Missouri 4-0; 23. FLORIDA 3-1; 24. Kansas 4-0; 25. Kansas State 3-1

UF volleyball: Five sets? No Alexis Stucky? Nooooo problem!

Mary Wise’s Gators must love living on the edge. They’re 10-1 (2-0 SEC) this season with half their wins coming the hard way – five sets. The 3rd-ranked Gators opened SEC play Friday night at No. 24 Auburn, rallying past the Tigers in come-from-behind fashion by taking the fourth and fifth sets. Sunday night, arch-rival Georgia came to the O-Dome and once again the Gators had their backs to the wall. Trailing Georgia 2-1, the Gators staged yet another rally, winning the fourth set, 25-23, on a kill by Sofia Victoria, then finishing off the Bulldogs, 15-13, in the fifth and final set.

The Gators are not only 2-0 in SEC play, but 2-0 with graduate transfer Kennedy Muff as the setter. When All-American setter Alexis Stucky went down with an ACL tear a week ago in a 5-set loss to No. 1 Wisconsin, Muff took over as the starting setter. The Gators are 2-0 as Muff becomes more and more comfortable quarterbacking Florida’s attack.

Sunday night, Victoria had half her 16 kills in the final two sets to lead the Gators. Muff had 38 assists, two service aces, four blocks, six kills and 12 digs. Nnedi Okammor led the Gators with 10 blocks while Ellie McKissic had 15 digs and four services aces.

Next up for the Gators is an O-Dome match with Texas A&M (9-3, 1-1 SEC) Wednesday night.

SEC football

No. 12 Alabama (3-1, 1-0 SEC): A wounded Nick Saban is a dangerous Nick Saban. The way Alabama played, especially on defense, against Ole Miss was a warning shot across the bow of the rest of the SEC. If Jalen Milroe can build on his game against Ole Miss (17-21, 225 yards and 1 TD) Alabama will be a beastly obstacle for everyone on its remaining schedule. Next week: at Mississippi State (2-2, 0-2 SEC)

Arkansas (2-2, 0-1 SEC): The Hogs dominated LSU in the first half, but the defense let them down in the second half, particularly in the last few minutes when LSU drove 72 yards to set up a game-winning field goal with five seconds to go. Despite three TDPs, KJ Jefferson threw two critical interceptions and fumbled twice, although Arkansas recovered both of the fumbles. Arkansas shot itself in the foot with 11 penalties. Next week: vs. Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC) in Arlington, TX

Auburn (3-1, 0-1 SEC): The problem for the Tigers is at quarterback. Payton Thorne is NOT the answer nor is Robby Ashford. Does Hugh Freeze give redshirt freshman Holton Geriner a shot as the starter? He threw a couple of completions against the Aggies after Thorne and Ashford couldn’t move the offense. Can Geriner be any worse than Thorne or Ashford. Next week: vs. No. 1 Georgia (4-0, 1-0 SEC)

No. 1 Georgia (4-0, 1-0 SEC): The trend of a tale of two Georgias continued. There is the ho hum Georgia that plays down to its competition in the first half. Then there is the second half Georgia, which plays like a team that can win a national championship. UAB was feeling good after two quarters, but felt the wrath of Georgia in the second half when Georgia poured it on. Next week: at Auburn (3-1, 0-1 SEC)

Kentucky (4-0, 1-0 SEC): The Wildcats have been successful making opponents one-dimensional by first stuffing the run (77.5 yards per game, 2.58 per carry). The pass rush has produced 11 sacks and forces a lot of quick throws. Opponents average only 5.8 yards per pass attempt. Next week: vs. No. 22 FLORIDA (3-1, 1-0 SEC)

No. 13 LSU (3-1, 2-0 SEC): Three of Jayden Daniel’s four touchdown passes against Arkansas came in the second half. Daniels threw for 320 yards, completing 20-29 passes. Malik Nabers (8-130) and Brian Thomas Jr. (5-133) both caught two TDPs. Next week: at No. 20 Ole Miss (3-1, 0-1 SEC)

Mississippi State (2-2, 0-2 SEC): Lideatrick Griffin caught seven passes for 256 yards including a 65-yard touchdown reception against South Carolina. The Bulldogs ran for only 32 yards in 23 attempts against the Gamecocks. Next week: vs. No. 12 Alabama (3-1, 1-0 SEC)

No. 23 Missouri (4-0, 0-0 SEC): Brady Cook didn’t practice all week, but it didn’t hurt him against Memphis. Cook went 18-25 passing for 341 yards and two touchdowns. Through four games Cook has yet to throw an interception. Next week: at Vanderbilt (2-3, 0-1 SEC)

No. 20 Ole Miss (3-1, 0-1 SEC): The Rebels couldn’t run the football against Alabama, gaining only 56 yards on 29 carries. QB Jaxson Dart, who ran for 136 yards the previous week against Georgia Tech, was sacked five times for -20 yards. He finished the game with a net of five yards on 12 carries. Next week: vs. No. 13 LSU (3-1, 2-0 SEC)

South Carolina (2-2, 1-1 SEC): Wide receiver Xavier Legette had a monster game against Mississippi State, catching five passes for 189 yards including touchdown receptions of 76 and 75 yards. Spencer Rattler was 18-20 passing for 288 yards and three touchdowns. Next week: at No. 21 Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC)

No. 21 Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC): Joe Milton threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, plus had an 81-yard touchdown run to lead the Vols past Texas-San Antonio. The Vols ran for 303 yards, averaging 9.18 yards per carry. Next week: vs. South Carolina 2-2, 1-1 SEC

Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC): Do the Aggies have a quarterback controversy now? When Conner Weigman went down with an injury, Max Johnson revived a sluggish offense by throwing a pair of third quarter touchdown passes. The A&M offense operated far more efficiently with Johnson than they had the previous three games with Weigman at QB. Next week: vs. Arkansas (2-2, 0-1 SEC) in Arlington, TX

Vanderbilt (2-3, 0-1 SEC): The Commodores shot themselves in the foot against Kentucky, throwing four interceptions and committing seven penalties for -75 yards. AJ Swann was only 16-40 passing for 189 yards with no TDPs and three interceptions. Next week: vs. No. 23 Missouri (4-0, 0-0 SEC)

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Cameron Ward. You probably don’t know that name, but here’s a clue for you. If he were playing in the Southeastern Conference he would be the best quarterback, hands down. Nobody knew about him in 2018 where he threw for 1070 yards and seven touchdowns at Columbia High School in West Columbia (population 3,644), Texas. He spent two years in the D1AA Southland Conference playing at Incarnate Word where he threw for 6,908 yards and 71 touchdowns in two years. He entered the transfer portal after the 2021 season, intent on playing at a Power 5 conference school.

He transferred to Washington State where he threw for 3,231 yards and 23 TDs last year. Already this season Ward has thrown for 1,389 yards (9.9 per attempt) and 13 TDs without an interception. He scares the bejabbers out of every defensive coordinator in the Pac-12. Some folks who know about these things say Cam Ward is by far the best QB in a league that has reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams (USC), Michael Penix (Washington) and Bo Nix (Oregon).

Why is this important? Because Cam Ward has gone from D1AA to maybe being the best QB in all of college football, no matter the division. He wants to play in the NFL someday. Do you know how many D1AA players were taken in the most recent NFL Draft? Ten. That’s all. At Wazzoo, Cam Ward will get drafted, quite likely in the first round in 2024. At Incarnate Word, he would be trying to land a free agent gig or trying to catch someone’s eye in the XFL, USFL or Arena League.

Get ready for D1AA quarterbacks to be a transfer trend in December when the portal opens up again. Division I coaches who need an experienced QB will be less afraid to dip down to the D1AA ranks thanks to Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and D1AA QBs who want a shot at the NFL will be looking to move up.