When it comes to football, senior wide receiver Ryan Pearson is all business.The same can be said of him off the field.

Pearson, in his fifth season on the Horned Frog football team, graduated with a degree in finance in May, and is now pursuing his MBA.

Pearson said he plays golf to relax in what little spare time he has, but his roommate and teammate, wide receiver Matt Grimmett, said Pearson finds it hard to take it easy.

Grimmett said Pearson approaches golf just like he approaches everything: with intensity.

“It’s funny because sometimes he can go a little overboard,” Grimmett said.

That intensity carries over to the football field as well as the classroom.

During the summer, Pearson balanced a demanding practice schedule with preparation for the MBA START Workshop, required of all students seeking an MBA.

The workshop took place the week before classes started and Pearson said that was when his schedule really started to pick up.

“It’s rough,” Pearson said. “I have to do a lot of ahead reading during the weekends.”

Pearson said he is currently enrolled in 15 hours of classes.

He said now that classes are well under way, the schedule will begin to smooth itself out, falling into a rhythm.

“Mondays and Wednesdays are my long days,” Pearson said.

On those days, Pearson may go without a break from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

He said time management will be key in keeping the balance between football and classes, and reading ahead during the weekends has already begun to pay off.

Wide receivers coach Jarrett Anderson said Pearson is one of two seniors graduating in December.

Anderson said on some days, Pearson goes from class to practice, with the stroll across campus providing his only break of the day.

Anderson, in his eighth year at TCU, said Pearson is one of the most dedicated student-athletes he has worked with.

Grimmett said Pearson always approaches everything he does with 110 percent and has a drive that is uncommon among student-athletes.

“He’s probably one of the best student-athletes on campus,” Grimmett said. “He always has his head in the right place.”

Pearson said the week before classes began this semester, his days consisted of the START workshop during the day as well as two-a-day practices.

Anderson said the payoff will make all of Pearson’s hard work worth it.

“The demand is higher because the classes he’s taking now will determine who he works for,” Anderson said.

Pearson said he wants to go into investment banking after receiving his MBA.

Pearson was redshirted his freshman year as a walk-on, and is currently behind Marcus Brock on the depth chart.

Pearson started his first game against Army last year, and made his first catch against SMU.