GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gators
Jeremy Crawshaw,
Montrell Johnson Jr.,
Ricky Pearsall,
Rocco Underwood and
Princely Umanmielen found spots on Phil Steele's Postseason SEC All-Conference Teams for their play during the 2023 season.
Jeremy Crawshaw – Second Team
Montrell Johnson Jr. – Third Team
Ricky Pearsall – Second Team
Rocco Underwood – Fourth Team
Princely Umanmielen – Third Team
OFFENESE
RICKY PEARSALL
Pearsall started all 12 games at wide receiver for the Gators this season leading the team in receptions (65), receiving yards (965) and receiving yards per game (80.4). The Chandler, Arizona native was a security blanket and explosive playmaker for his quarterback
Graham Mertz. 41 of Pearsall's 65 receptions (63.1%) were for first-downs and 35 of 65 (53.8%) went for double-digit yards. He was equally effective in the red zone, totaling six touchdowns (four receiving and two rushing).
The senior's most notable performance of the season occurred in the Gators road victory over South Carolina. Pearsall recorded a career day logging ten receptions and 166 receiving yards, both career highs, and caught the game-winning touchdown.
MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.
Johnson Jr. started the first 11 games, appearing in all 12, for the Gators during the 2023 campaign. He, just like Pearsall had done in receiving, led the Gators in rushing for the second straight season (817). Johnson Jr. averaged 5.4 yards per carry and 68.0 yards per game and scored six touchdowns, five on the ground one through the air.
The New Orleans native totaled three games of over 100 yards rushing. Johnson logged 119 yards and two touchdowns against McNeese, 135 yards and one touchdown at home against Vanderbilt and 107 yards and one score versus rival Florida State.
SPECIAL TEAMS
JEREMY CRAWSHAW
A third-year Punter out of New South Wales, Australia, Crawshaw owns the career record for average yards per punt (min. 90 punts) at Florida at 46.7 yards. In 2023, Crawshaw set the Florida program record for average with 48.9 yards per punt, with seven of his 42 punts going for 60 yards or more. He set career highs with 21 50-plus yard punts, 15 punts inside the opponents 20-yard line, and a long punt of 68 yards.
ROCCO UNDERWOOD
Underwood appeared in all 12 games for Florida, serving as Florida's primary long snapper and making every single long snap (94 total) on the year for Florida. Underwood is on a current streak of 24 consecutive games as Florida's primary long snapper, and 26 consecutive games played, beginning with his debut in 2021's Gasparilla Bowl against UCF. Made a season-High 13 snaps for Florida against Arkansas.
DEFENSE
Former Gator
Princely Umanmielen recorded 39 tackles, seven sacks and 17 quarterback hurries during the 2023 season.
