Tag: Elias Ricks

LSU cornerback enters transfer portal, lists Ohio State in top 4

Former 5-star corner jumps in transfer portal and Ohio State is looking to make its pitch.

Many Buckeye fans may remember the name, Elias Ricks. Ricks was the No. 2 rated cornerback in the 2020 class according to 247Sports composite rankings and had OSU as a finalist. The 5-star DB ultimately chose LSU but stated that Ohio State was a close second.

Well, guess who’s back on the market after entering the transfer portal earlier in the week? That’s right, Ricks who was not happy with the decision LSU brass made in firing Ed Orgeron, has decided to take his talents elsewhere. And the Buckeyes are firmly in the mix.

It was reported that Ricks was scheduled to have a phone call with Kerry Coombs Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving. Ricks has some close friends at Ohio State which included quarterback C.J. Stroud as the two share the same hometown of Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Along with OSU, the former LSU corner is also considering Alabama, Georgia, and USC and would be a huge catch for any of the four schools.

247Sports’, Gregg Biggins projects Ricks as a first-round talent with comparable skills to NFL cornerback, Richard Sherman. It goes without staying, this would be a huge get for the Buckeyes. Time for Coach Coombs to work some magic.

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Pair of LSU Tigers land on FWAA Freshman All-America Team

Elias Ricks and Kayshon Boutte were recognized as some of the nation’s top freshmen for the 2020 college football season by the FWAA.

The accolades continue to pour in for LSU freshman cornerback Elias Ricks and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. On Monday, Ricks and Boutte were included in the Football Writers Association of America’s Freshman All-America team.

Boutte is the first LSU wide receiver to be named a Freshman All-American by the FWAA in the 20 years it has released such a list. Boutte rose to the occasion late in the year when the Tigers needed a receiver to step up and make plays. Boutte recorded 100-yard games in each of LSU’s final three games of the season, highlighted by an SEC-record 308 receiving yards in the regular-season finale against Ole Miss. The FWAA recognized that individual performance as its FWAA Freshman Performance of the Year.

“LSU continues to produce outstanding young cornerbacks,” the press release from the FWAA stated when referring to Ricks.

The two Tigers were two of eight freshmen honored by the FWAA for the 2020 season residing in the SEC. No other conference had as many freshmen on the FWAA Freshman All-America Team as the SEC. The ACC had five players, and the Big 12 had four players honored. The Big Ten, American Athletic Conference and Sun Belt Conference each had three players listed.

Ricks and Boutte recently were named to the 247 Sports Freshman All-American Team. Both players were also named to the All-SEC team by Pro Football Focus. Ricks also graded the highest in single coverage this past season according to PFF.

WATCH: LSU CB Eli Ricks returns Florida QB Kyle Trask INT for go-ahead TD

LSU’s Eli Ricks grades out highest in college football in this category

LSU CB Eli Ricks had everyone beat in this area.

It’s no secret that freshman cornerback Eli Ricks was a major factor in LSU’s defensive efforts on an otherwise dismal 2020 college football season.

The cornerback totaled 20 tackles last year, 11 solo, along with five passes defensed, four interceptions and two touchdowns.

He also stood out above the rest of college football in one category during his rookie campaign.

Ricks registered an 81.9 grade in single coverage according to Pro Football Focus — one that was unrivaled by any other player.

Ricks earned several postseason honors after LSU’s 5-5 finish that was capped off with an upset win over Florida and a home victory over Ole Miss, including being named to the SEC All-Freshman team.

Ricks and LSU are set to open the 2021 college football season against UCLA on the road on Sept. 4.

It will be interesting to see how Ricks builds upon an already strong foundation as he progresses through his career with the Tigers.

Ed Orgeron: Elias Ricks ‘thought he hit with his shoulder first’ on targeting call

Ed Orgeron said Elias Ricks thought he led with his shoulder after he was ejected for targeting vs. Arkansas.

It wasn’t the nicest looking win for LSU over Arkansas as the Tigers shook off the rust, ultimately downing the Razorbacks, 27-24.

The LSU secondary lost a key player in cornerback Elias Ricks, who was ejected for targeting midway through the second quarter.

Because the hit on Razorbacks wide receiver Mike Woods occurred in the first half, Ricks won’t be forced to miss LSU’s next game against Texas A&M.

In the postgame press conference, LSU coach Ed Orgeron said that Ricks was under the impression he had led with his shoulder on the hit.

The true freshman entered the game with 11 tackles, a half-tackle for loss, three interceptions and two passes broken up over five games. His absence, coupled with that of fellow cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. had LSU looking like anything but DBU as the Tigers managed to stave off the effort from quarterback Feleipe Franks and the rest of the Arkansas offense.

Arkansas suffered a targeting call of its own, as defensive back Jalen Catalon was ejected for for targeting as well at the bottom of the fourth quarter.

LSU is set to take on Texas A&M at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday at Kyle Field.

HALFTIME: LSU leads Arkansas, 20-14 at halftime

LSU holds a one-score lead over a thin Arkansas team at the half.

LSU holds strong at the half in a game that was in jeopardy of even happening after COVID-19 issues hit Arkansas, leading the Razorbacks, 20-14 at halftime.

The LSU defense started off strong, quickly forcing a three-and-out for quarterback Feleipe Franks and the Razorbacks offense.

The Tigers were the first team to get to the scoreboard in the first quarter with a 49-yard field goal.

It was the Razorbacks who put the first touchdown on the board as they went up-tempo, though, as Franks sent a 65-yard strike to wide-open receiver Treylon Burks at the bottom of the first quarter.

Both teams found the end-zone in the second quarter, with a 30-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Racey McMath, a one-yard score by LSU running back Tyrion Davis-Price and a 10-yard scoring run from Franks.

At the bottom of the half, York sent another field goal attempt through the uprights to extend LSU’s lead.

The LSU secondary has had its fair share of struggles throughout the day, and suffered another blow as cornerback Elias Ricks was ejected for targeting.

On the offensive side of the ball, true freshman quarterback TJ Finley has put together what’s so far been a redeeming performance, completing 17-of-25 passing attempts for 176 yards and a touchdown.

Here’s a look at some of the key plays of the game so far with the first half in the books:

The Tigers will look to keep the momentum and finish the job when they get back to the field in Razorback Stadium for the final two quarters of action.

Mississippi State stuns No. 6 LSU in Baton Rouge with 44-34 victory

Mike Leach’s much-awaited SEC debut could not have gone any better on Saturday.

Mike Leach’s much-awaited SEC debut could not have gone any better on Saturday as his Mississippi State Bulldogs upset No. 6 LSU, 44-34 in Baton Rouge.

Stanford graduate transfer quarterback K.J. Costello set an SEC record with 623 passing yards. The Stanford transfer completed 36-of-60 passes with five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Costello had quite the debut for the school, becoming the first SEC player to ever pass for over 600 yards in a game.

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Mississippi State held a 10-point lead with around 12 minutes to play when LSU freshman cornerback Eli Ricks picked off Costello at the Mississippi State 45-yard line. Three plays later, LSU quarterback Myles Brennan hit Terrace Marshall for a 33-yard touchdown to trim the lead to 34-31.

LSU forced another turnover on the Bulldogs’ next possession as safety JaCoby Stevens forced and recovered a Costello fumble.

LSU would end its next offensive drive with a field goal to tie the game, with Mississippi State scoring the final 10 points to pull off the upset.

Brennan completed 27-of-44 passes for 345 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in his starting debut for the Tigers. Wide receiver Terrace Marshall caught eight passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

LSU (0-1) will catch a bit of a break as it travels to Nashville to face Vanderbilt next week.

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LSU football freshman profile: CB Elias Ricks

The former five-star recruit was the No. 1 ranked overall prospect in the state of Florida coming out of IMG Academy.

LSU freshman cornerback Elias Ricks has been a highly talked about player for the Tigers secondary leading up to the 2020 college football season.

Ricks joins a Tigers secondary that includes cornerback Derek Stingley Jr and safety JaCoby Stevens.

The former five-star recruit was the No. 1 ranked overall prospect in the state of Florida coming out of IMG Academy.

Ricks was listed as a five-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals. He won back-to-back state championships at Mater Del High School in California. Perhaps what sets him apart most from other players at the position is his Football IQ and ability to make plays anywhere on the field.

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In 2020, the coveted freshman will likely see time on the opposite side of Stingley, and should contribute heavily to a Tigers defense that lost core players from last season.

The Tigers are replacing numerous starters all over the defense, and Ricks has an opportunity to become a viable part of the unit in his first season.

Last year, Stingley totaled six interceptions on his own at cornerback. Pair him with a five-star freshman in Ricks, and the program could potentially have the best cornerback duo in the country.

Ricks enrolled at LSU in January, and saw time during spring practice before the coronavirus pandemic halted their reps.

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With LSU having started walkthroughs last Friday, the star freshman now has a longer chance before the season starts to prove to the coaching staff why he deserves an immediate starting position.

When Stingley departs the program in a few years, Ricks has the potential to be the star of the Tigers’ defensive unit.

It will be interesting to see how much playing time he earns once the 2020 season begins for the Tigers.

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