Eli

Ricks

Ricks (6'2/196) is expected to be a force at Alabama and plenty of analysts are high on what he’s shown to this point. Ricks is the only SEC cornerback to ever post a 70+ man coverage grade over the past two seasons. He was recently listed as the best player at his position by Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus. That puts him ahead of Cam Smith (South Carolina) and Clark Phillips III (Utah).

Ricks (6'2/196) showed a lot of potential at LSU and is expected to continue making a big splash after he departed to Alabama back in December. According to Pro Football Focus, Ricks is the only SEC cornerback to ever post a 70+ man coverage grade over the past two seasons. It’s reasons like this that make him a true standout and play a role into why he was named to the Nagurski Trophy preseason watch list. The award his handed out to the best defensive player in college football and was most recently earned by Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr.

Ricks (6'2"/196) will receive a fine for the speeding ticket, but with the marijuana charge dropped and the insurance matter seemingly resolved, not further punishment seems likely. That’s great news for Ricks and Alabama, as Ricks is a highly touted transfer from LSU and was expected to compete for the starting job and have a great chance to win.

Ricks (6'2/196) originally committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide in December, marking his departure from LSU. He’s expected to compete for a starting role ahead of the 2022 season, and both his play and the numbers reflect why he has that opportunity at such a prestigious level. According to Pro Football Focus, Ricks is the only SEC CB to post a 70+ man coverage grade over the past two seasons.

Ricks (6'2/196) was booked into the Jones County Sheriff’s Department at 5:14 PM Sunday and was reportedly still in the county jail Monday morning. He will look to have his bond set by a judge later in the week. The former LSU CB committed to Alabama last December and is expected to compete for a starting role ahead of the 2022 season.

Ricks (6'3/186) is a tremendous grab for Alabama, who strengthens its secondary with the addition of the former five-star prospect. As a freshman, Ricks was named third-team All-American, and had posted 11 tackles and one interception in six games this season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Ricks should have a chance to make an immediate impact for Bama in 2022. He had a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 68.8 in 2021, and a coverage grade of 85.6 in 2020.

Ricks (6'3"/186) a former five-star recruit, is the latest to jump the sinking LSU ship. Ricks was well-positioned to continue LSU’s DBU legacy as he was a third-team All-American in his freshman year and was having a good sophomore campaign before having season-ending shoulder surgery in October. Already one of the best CBs in the country, Ricks will have no shortage of suitors when he enters the transfer portal. Ohio State was one of the biggest contenders for his signature coming out of high school, and Georgia is a hot destination for defenders right now. It’s a massive blow for LSU, who entered the year with THE best CB duo and leaves 2021 without either.

The hits just keep on coming for the Tigers. Already playing without injured superstar CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU was relying on Ricks (6'3/186) to lock down opponents’ best receivers. And that’s a job he can handle: As a freshman he picked off four passes en route AP Third Team All-American and Freshman All-SEC team honors. Interestingly, LSU HC Ed Orgeron noted to the media that this is not a new injury, but a preexisting one that “kept on coming back"; Ricks has now opted for surgery. Ricks played his entire senior year at IMG Academy with a torn labrum and then missed his first LSU spring practices while his shoulder healed. It isn’t just the CB room at LSU that is hurting. Star WR Kayshon Boutte was announced out for the year on Monday as well.

While there are some who expect freshman Elias Ricks to be LSU’s best cornerback, one must not overlook Stingley Jr. (6'1/195). He was excellent as a freshman, and a return to fill strength means that the sophomore will be well-equipped to bounce back from a disappointing 2020 season. “It will definitely be close. Both are extremely talented and ball hawks, but Stingley is coming off an injury-plagued season and has something to prove to NFL scouts,” Farrell wrote in answering the question of which player will be LSU’s top corner this season. “I expect a massive season from him next year as he locks down CB1 in the country.” At minimum, Stingley should be one of the top draft-eligible defenders in college football in 2021.

Since the infraction occurred during the first half, Ricks (6'3/186) won’t miss any game time beyond the remainder of Saturday’s game. With Mo Hampton also out, LSU will look to finish without the services of two of their starting defensive backs.