Nick Saban shares update on LSU transfer Eli Ricks

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•03/23/22

When the Alabama Crimson Tide landed former LSU defensive back Eli Ricks through the transfer portal, it was one of the biggest acquisitions of the offseason. Crimson Tide fans were looking forward to see how their new star corner performed in spring practice. On Wednesday afternoon, Alabama head coach Nick Saban provided an update on Ricks and noted he’s still working to get back in shape.

“He’s done a great job…He wasn’t able to do anything for a long time. When he started here in the offseason program, that was the first thing he’s done for a long time. He lost some weight; he’s been gaining it back,” Saban said in Wednesday’s press conference.

Ricks was a third team All-American defensive back in 2020 and one of the most coveted cornerback prospects in the transfer portal for the 2021 cycle. In two seasons with LSU, he snagged five interceptions and tallied 31 tackles. In 2020, he also returned two of those interceptions for touchdowns.

Ricks and Alabama’s Bryce Young were teammates at Mater Dei for a season, before Ricks transferred to IMG Academy for his senior year of high school football. He was one of the nation’s top prospects in the 2020 recruiting class and was a five-star recruit, according to the On3 Consensus Rankings. According to those same rankings, he was also rated as the No. 23 overall prospect in America in the 2020 class.

He’ll be joining an Alabama defense that has two of the most terrifying pass rushers in college football, Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner. Anderson very well could win the Heisman Trophy in the 2022-2023 season. After racking up over 100 tackles, 34.5 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks in 15 games during last season, it was surprising he wasn’t invited to New York City for last year’s ceremony. He’ll be pairing with Turner, yet another player that has flashed mind-blowingly quick speed to bend the edge and get to the quarterback. Simply put, it will be tough to find a better pass rushing tandem better than Turner and Anderson anywhere in college football.