Five-star 2024 CB Desmond Ricks announces top ten

2024 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks is not just the top cornerback prospect in the country, but one of the top players in the country regardless of position. Ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the country regardless of position, the five-star cut down his extensive list of offers for the first time, to ten, and Texas A&M remains in the mix.

In addition to the Aggies, the five-star is considering Alabama, LSU, Florida, Jackson State, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon and USC.

“I can really see myself playing at all 10 of these schools,” he told On3’s Chad Simmons. “They’re the ones talk to the most, and they have shown me the most love.” 

Ricks has yet to visit Texas A&M, but the Aggies aren’t the only school in his top ten he has yet to see. Out of his top ten, the five-star has only visited Alabama, Florida, LSU and Miami. He’s already set to return to Florida at the end of this month.

Ricks very well could make his first trip to College Station in the fall, and is still in the process of developing relationships and learning about each program. As he evaluates these ten programs, one key factor will decide where he spends his college career.

“The most important to me is where I will get developed,” he said. “All 10 schools are top programs and I see them doing big things not only this season but in the coming years. They have great coaches, they recruit great players, and I know I could do well at any one of them. … I want to see how they play, what schools are winning, what coaches are producing on the field, and things like that.”

Scouting Report on Desmond Ricks

Big, athletic corner who stars on one of the most talented defenses in high school football. Has good stature for the position at over 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds heading into his junior season. Registers as a strong athlete in the combine setting.

Was a key player on IMG Academy’s talented defense as a sophomore in addition to seeing significant time as a freshman. A smooth mover with advanced technical ability. Battle-tested against top wide receivers both in practice at IMG and in playing a national schedule throughout the fall.

Older for the class, turning 18 years old in the middle of his junior season. — On3’s Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power

Ricks ranks as the No. 2 prospect and No. 1 cornerback in the 2024 class per the On3 Consensus,  a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. The five-star has an On3 NIL Valuation of $154K. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.