Who are the major players for 5-star CB Desmond Ricks?

Chesapeake (Va.) IMG Academy five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks is the newest member of the 2023 recruit class after his reclassification this month, and immediately emerged as one of the most high-profile uncommitted players.

On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons hopped on The Inside Scoop on Monday to discuss Ricks’ recruitment as a 2023 player and started with Alabama.

Simmons has previous written about his belief that Ricks would take an official visit to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the Iron Bowl. That visit is now set.

“He’s now locked that in for the official visit to Alabama,” Simmons said. “He was there for a game prior to this fall. He’s been there before. That connection with T Rob is real. Obviously he knows about Bama’s production.”

Ricks is the No. 12 overall recruit and No. 2 cornerback in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Lakeland (Fla.) Five-Star Plus+ cornerback Cormani McClain is the lone quarterback ranked ahead of him.

The Crimson Tide are ahead of the pack for Ricks, Simmons said, along with SEC foe LSU.

“I’ve mentioned the two I think are trending at the moment have been Alabama and then LSU,” Simmons said. “He’s now locked in an OV to LSU for mid December, the weekend before the early signing period. So something to keep an eye on there. I think both those SEC programs are doing a great job with Ricks. His family’s involved as well. Those are two big key official visits. “

Simmons said the race isn’t over yet as two other in-state schools are also working hard to land the five-star talent.

“Then you have Florida, who’s gotten in there and landed one for the first weekend in December,” Simmons said. “He’s trippped before. He has numerous IMG ties to the University of Florida, has connections there. He’s locked in those first three again. I think Miami is in position to land one at some point, whether it be November or December. They’re a major player in this as well.”

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $238k. 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.

Desmond Ricks Scouting Summary

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 2022 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.