Eli Ricks (DB) – Alabama / Junior
6’2” / 196 lbs (Unofficial)
2022 Stats: 9 games, 8 solo tackles, 5 assists, 13 total tackles, 0 INT, 4 passes defended
{Reference: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/eli-ricks-1.html}
Awards:
- Awards: Voted to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd All-America and All-SEC Teams by numerous organizations in 2020 as a Freshman (at LSU), and was on multiple award watch lists in 2021 (at LSU).
Measurables: (AVAILABLE POST COMBINE/PRO DAY)
Games Watched: 2022 vs. Mississippi St., 2022 Kansas St. (Bowl Game), 2020 vs. Alabama
PRO’S
If you want a high-end press man boundary Corner, then Elias “Eli” Ricks is the type of player for you. Ricks is very physical at the line and does a great job of jamming WRs at the snap, slowing the WR down as he tries to release, and makes great use of his hand placement (and long arms) at the WR’s shoulders and torso in doing so. He does a nice job of getting in the face of WRs at the catch point and contesting catches. Ricks is definitely not afraid of contact.
Great short area speed and accelerates well. Ricks has the top end speed to play outside CB, along with the height and arm length to do so. He has some good twitch and reacts quickly, and he’s a pretty good downhill tackler for a CB and plays the run pretty well. He flashes anticipation, but I wouldn’t call it his strong suit. He also has some built-in intangibles that can’t be taught – height (6’2”) and long arms, which he uses to high point the ball in coverage.
As much as I’ve stressed his press/man skills, he’s solid in zone coverage as well. IF he does not succeed at outside CB at a very high level, then he should succeed at the slot. He is definitely enough of a complete package to want in your secondary, and he could be a valuable chess piece.
CON’S
His speed is pretty good, and is good and fast enough in this evaluator’s opinion to play man on the outside but he’ll need some coaching up in that area. Reaction time needs to improve in the NFL, and he bites on double-moves too often. There could be some concern or talk about why his rookie season (2020 in LSU) was better than his second and third season. Fair points, but I believe it’s because LSU was a mess at the time (hence his transfer to LSU) and that Alabama just may have used him somewhat differently. Personally, I’m not concerned about those questions as I think he’s got the skill set to be a valuable piece in an NFL secondary.
OVERALL
A transfer in 2022 from LSU (aka DB University) to Alabama, Ricks has very enticing traits for a press man DB, but he’s not a complete product – I mean, no NCAA draftee is, but DB may be the hardest transition outside of QB and I think Ricks will need a decent amount of coaching and experience to reach his potential. Very enticing, but not a sure thing as a CB1, in my opinion. I think he’s a 2nd round talent, but this is a good CB draft and if those players fly off the board in the 1st round, I could understand a CB-needy team taking him in the 1st, given his traits they’d have to work with and build from, and I wouldn’t blink an eye. I wouldn’t be surprised if my opinion of him rises to that of a clear 1st round value leading up to the draft, after pro-days, other workouts, and further contemplation.
Completed by: @JoeJ_Clark, 01/22/23
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