Ohio State Football: Elite cornerback transfer interested in Buckeyes

Dec 12, 2020; Gainesville, FL, USA; LSU defensive back Eli Ricks (1) runs with the ball after making an interception during a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Dec. 12, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Brad McClenny-USA TODAY NETWORK

When former LSU cornerback Eli Ricks entered the transfer portal the other day, speculation immediately began about the Ohio State Football team’s chances of landing him. The answer appears to be there is a good chance he will choose the Buckeyes.

Ricks is a former five-star recruit and was a freshman All-American last season for the Tigers when he had four interceptions-two of those he returned for touchdowns. His 2021 season ended for him after shoulder surgery in mid-October. Ricks told 247 Sports the impending departure of LSU head coach Ed Orgeron is the main reason he decided to transfer.

Although Ricks is considering Alabama, Georgia, and USC as well, the Buckeyes are a program he is very familiar with. When he was being recruited as the number two cornerback in the country, OSU was his second choice. He is from the same town (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) as C.J. Stroud and said he and the Buckeye quarterback are very close. He had this to say about Ohio State,

“They’re a winning program and that’s important to me. I like coach Day and he was one of the guys I talked with back in high school too. He’s a great coach and there’s a lot of things about Ohio State that stand out. I’m very close with CJ Stroud and I’ve talked with him, Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Me and CJ played on the same pop warner team when we were seven years old and we’ve been close ever since.”

Ricks told 247 Sports he has been texting with Kerry Coombs and had a call scheduled with the OSU assistant coach Wednesday night. He plans on a decision in mid-December and enroll in January.

With the emergence of Denzel Burke as a shutdown corner and the play of a continually improving Cam Brown, the addition of Ricks would give the Buckeyes a formidable trio of pass defenders. The Ohio State Football program has had a lot of success in adding very talented players via the transfer portal. Hopefully, Ricks will be a continuation of that success.