Henry To'o To'o uses his own experience to offer advice to Eli Ricks on LSU return

As Alabama cornerback Eli Ricks prepares to return to LSU on Saturday, he has a teammate who has been in his position before in linebacker Henry To’oTo’o. After transferring from Tennessee last season, To’oTo’o returned to Knoxville this year when the Crimson Tide played the Volunteers.

Now with Ricks getting ready to play in Baton Rouge, where he began his college career, To’oTo’o offered some advice to him during a Monday press conference.

“I haven’t talked to him yet,” To’oTo’o said. “We all just got back from our little three-day break that we had from here. Shoot, but if I had something to say to him, (it’d be) ‘Just be ready. Just play your ball. Your plays will come. External noise is external noise. You’re at Alabama now. You’re with us.’

“I know he’s super excited. From my experience, just block out the external noise. Of course their fans are going to have something to say about him, but just do the best he can to play his ball.”

A five-star prospect, Eli Ricks committed to LSU as a five star prospect and the No. 18 overall player in the 2020 class according to On3 Consensus. He spent two seasons with the Tigers before transferring to Alabama following the firing of coach Ed Orgeron last season.

Ricks has played in just six games this season as he has been limited with injuries, and is tied for fourth on the team with four passes defended. Meanwhile, LSU has found success after his departure, and enters Saturday’s contest No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings and winners of six of their last seven games.

Saturday’s contest will have huge implications in the SEC West, as the winner will sit in the driver’s seat to represent the division in the conference championship. Ricks will hope to put the advice of To’oTo’o to use when Alabama kicks off against LSU at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday at his old stomping grounds.