Mertz, Pearsall Connection Leading Gators’ Emerging Passing Attack
At 1-7 in games away from The Swamp during the Billy Napier era of Gators football, Florida found itself in a 10-point hole in Week 7 to the South Carolina Gamecocks with 9:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Already a daunting task for an offense geared toward the run, the road demons the Gators faced added an extra obstacle to hurdle during the uphill climb.
However, when Florida's offense received the kickoff after the score, quarterback Graham Mertz trotted onto the field, striving to build on his impressive outing to elevate his team back from the two-score deficit.
"We've been through a lot of adversity, and I think that's when you've really got to rely on your 'why' in a situation like that," Mertz said post-game. "For me, it was deep down make the next play, lead the guys, how do you keep everybody engaged.
"When you are down 10 points, it's really easy to be like, 'Oh crap, you are down 10 points,' when the reality is it's just two drives, two drives and you are executing. I always try to think of the games in drives and attempts, not in points, because points can be daunting. But, when you look up there and you think of it practically as far as drives, that really puts you in the moment. It frees you up just to go play."
Play is what he did.
On the final two offensive drives against the Gamecocks, Mertz accounted for 146 yards and two passing touchdowns on 10-for-18 passing to put the Gators back within striking distance of the lead before winning the contest with a 21-yard pass to senior wideout Ricky Pearsall up the seam for the score.
His 423 yards, three touchdowns and zero turnovers on 62.5% completion highlighted the Wisconsin transfer's resurgence since arriving at the University of Florida, as he produced in a fashion previously unseen during his collegiate career. Not only did he manage the offense and play turnover-free football as he's called to do, but he won the Gators a football game with his arm.
Pearsall led all Gators receivers on the day with 10 receptions and 166 yards. He paired up with Mertz for the final time on the go-ahead, game-winning touchdown toss from 21 yards out, a decision and outcome he recalls was predetermined by him and Mertz before UF lined up into formation.
"In the South Carolina game, on the game-winning play, we were looking at the signal together," Pearsall shared when asked if the duo had an unspoken understanding on the field. "I stand in the middle of the field because we're getting the signal. I don't know what side of the field I am going to be on yet. They signal to us the first time. I like to look at it twice to be sure. I knew what the play was after the first signal. He stood next to me [and] was like, 'Go win the game.'
"I kind of knew he was throwing me the ball. I just looked at him and said, 'Bet.' Ran out there, lined up in the slot, we got the look we wanted. I knew it was coming to my way. I knew I just had to make the play. He looked off the safety; that's all we needed to get an opening. Came back my way, delivered a great ball, so...
"Yeah, we have that look."
The dominant performance from the former Arizona State transfer is only a microcosm of his production since he elected to don orange and blue threads for a final time in 2023.
Accounting for 44 receptions, 619 yards and three touchdowns through seven games, Pearsall's already eclipsed his 2022 mark for catches and is on pace to comfortably surpass the others.
The decision to return to Gainesville instead of testing his luck in the NFL Draft waters following the 2022 campaign has paid dividends in his eyes. Mertz exceeding the external preseason expectations and growing confidence has helped reaffirm Pearsall's choice.
"I'm so excited, so blessed. God went to work with that," Pearsall said about Mertz. "I just leave it up to him and trust his process. Obviously, he's doing things that I'm super excited to do. I'm more than happy. I can't even express how happy I am with Graham and what he's been doing. I'm excited to keep going, man."
Their bond culminated in Florida's aforementioned outburst through the air against South Carolina in Week 7. However, the on-field connection is only the tip of the iceberg regarding the close-knit relationship the passer and pass catcher have built since Mertz arrived at UF this offseason.
"He's a brother," Mertz said. "Whenever you get to know your teammate, coach always talks about it, but when you form that off-the-field — obviously when I got here, it was about on-the-field stuff, catching, watching a film. It's kind of like a wave of on the field, you get a little bit of time off, off-the-field stuff. He's been awesome.
"That's my guy for life. Always have his back, he'll always have mine. "
Pearsall echoed Mertz's sentiment.
"He's actually one of my closest friends now," Pearsall shared. "I appreciate him as a player, as a person. He's just a great individual. On and off the field, he's the same human. I appreciate that more than anything. We hang out all the time outside of the field. Obviously, our girlfriends are friends as well, so it makes it kind of easy. Just being in the building, his energy is contagious. We just build off of him. He's a great dude."
The chemistry between Mertz and Pearsall is consistently growing on the field, in the film room and away from the facility.
Pearsall believes their friendship shows in their operation on gameday.
"I think that definitely helps, having a strong personal relationship with him, being able to be open with him, really talk through certain plays. Even if we get a little personal sometimes, we never take it that way. I'll be on the sideline yelling at him, 'Throw me the ball,' just some receiver things. It's never personal, man.
"Just having a strong relationship like that, being able to walk through film. he'll text me each and every day, be like, 'Hey, come to the film room, let's watch some film today.' We'll watch film, talk through certain plays, make sure we're on the same page. I think communication is probably one of the most important points on offense."
They look to use the established rapport to spearhead the unit's passing attack in the final five contests of the 2023 campaign as they look to maintain its effectiveness in a stretch demanding offensive firepower.
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