A lot of people have been waiting on Elias Pearl's senior year.
The Florida Gators commit went from an unranked prospect to a consensus four-star this offseason, reeling in dozens of offers and even being ranked as high as the No. 7 pass catcher in the nation by Rivals. He's ranked as the No. 13 overall player in the USA TODAY Florida Top 100.
Pearlwent down hard in a refereed scrimmage in the spring, and has been working back from the injury since. He finally made his debut in Week 4 against Dunbar, and did not disappoint. Pearl reeled in five catches for 68 yards in a 35-6 win over Dunbar, with each reception more impressive than the last.
"I'm feeling great, you know," Pearl said. "Definitely didn't perform to the best of my ability, but I'm happy
to be back on the field."
While Pearl may disagree, he showcased what made him such a valuable target for Florida in his first game back. His yards after catch were impressive, he made physical catches through coverage, he created elite separation, and his pre-snap movement showed just how tethered opposing defenses are to him as a threat.
Pearl took a visit to The Swamp in Florida's dismantling of Campbell. He said the relationship remains strong with the staff in Gainesville.
"It was good," Pearl said. "Definitely good to be back in The Swamp and get around the coaches and the players. We had a fun time. I love the atmosphere, good vibes. It's great to have a good relationship with them. I feel comfortable around the players and coaches ever since they started recruiting me. I feel like it's the perfect place for me."
Pearl confirmed to USA TODAY that he'll take another visit to Gainesville when the Gators host Ole Miss on Sept. 26.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Top Florida Gators commit Elias Pearl back from injury, shines in debut
