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[Matt Zenitz] The #Eagles are expected to sign former Alabama and LSU cornerback Eli Ricks as an undrafted free agent, a source tells @on3sports

  • April 29, 2023


[Matt Zenitz] The #Eagles are expected to sign former Alabama and LSU cornerback Eli Ricks as an undrafted free agent, a source tells @on3sports

33 comments

  6. Love this signing. He has the potential traits of a #1 corner if he can refine his game. Surprised no one drafted him

  10. Before this college season, he was a projected top 20 pick. Crazy value if he can replicate his past success

  16. Legitimately if he played for Bama in that Tennessee game they win it. He’s got potential imo

  17. From Brugler
    >
    > STRENGTHS: Checks boxes with his height and length … prefers to crowd receivers with an aggressive jam, which leads into his physical outside phase … closes well
    > with linear burst from off coverage to break on the football … looks more like a wide receiver with 50/50 balls … recorded eight interception returns for touchdowns
    > between high school and college, earning the nickname “pick six Ricks” … doesn’t lack for confidence and matches the physicality of bigger receivers … sets a hard
    > edge in the run game and shows physicality as a tackler (when he wants to) … has been groomed for football since he was young and has been training year-round
    > since elementary school.

    > WEAKNESSES: Thinly-built corner with stringy muscle tone … rigid mover with poor change of direction … lower-body technique is all over the place … doesn’t have
    > the long speed to recover once receivers gain a step on him vertically … left grabbing for cloth in coverage (four pass interference penalties in 2022) … lack of finishing
    > strength results in missed tackles (only 44 career tackles) … minimal special teams experience outside of field goal block coverage … arrested and charged with
    > speeding (91 MPH in a 70 MPH zone), no proof of insurance and misdemeanor marijuana possession (May 2022) … durability is a bright red flag with a history of
    > shoulder issues: played his senior year of high school with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, which required surgery after the last game (November 2019); suffered
    > another torn labrum that sidelined him for most of LSU’s 2021 season and required season-ending surgery (October 2021); also battled a back injury (August 2022)
    > and concussion/head injury (November 2022).

    > SUMMARY: A part-time starter in his one season at Alabama, Ricks was a perimeter cornerback in head coach Nick Saban’s scheme. After two seasons in Baton
    > Rouge, he was tardy acclimating himself to “The Process” culture at Alabama and struggled to stay off the injury report in Tuscaloosa. He has several desirable traits
    > for the position with his length, physicality and ball skills. However, he is a frenetic, tightly-wound athlete, and his turn and run lacks explosion, which might make it
    > tough to consistently keep up with NFL receivers. Overall, Ricks put himself on the NFL radar with an All-American freshman year at LSU, but that might have been
    > his peak because his tape the past two seasons shows a stiff, undisciplined player with question marks. His best chance in the NFL will come in a press-heavy
    > scheme.
    > GRADE: 6th-7th Round

  21. As an LSU fan, he was great for us his freshman year. It did sting though when he jumped over to Bama but I think he does have potential here to learn and develop into a solid contributor.

  24. He was picking off quarterbacks left and right in high school. He just didn’t get enough attention in college. You have no idea how high I am on this guy

  29. Bama fan here. This is huge for you guys. Ricks has an insanely high ceiling. He dealt with injuries for the first half of his year junior year but when he was on the field he was very impressive.

  31. Really not expecting much but between him woogie Garner Williams n Ringo we got a bunch of lanky SEC corners

  33. He’s got a good name. I can hear the announcers saying it…and that means he’ll be good. Trust me bro

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