No. 1 cornerback in 2024 class sets another visit to Florida
One of the nation’s elite prospects regardless of class and position is making another trip to the University of Florida.
Desmond Ricks, the No. 1 cornerback in the 2024 class, says he will be in attendance for the Gators’ recruiting cookout. That highly-anticipated event takes place on July 30.
A product of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, Ricks is also a five-star prospect and the top-ranked rising junior in the Sunshine State. That is according to the On3 Consensus. a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
When the Virginia native sets foot in Gainesville this month, it will mark his second visit to campus this year. He had an eye-opening experience with the Gators in late January; however, he is ready to get a more in-depth look at the program this time around.
“I enjoyed the facilities. I also enjoyed coach Napier, (cornerbacks) coach (Corey) Raymond and (defensive analyst) coach (Jamar) Chaney, who I was with most of the time,” Ricks previously told Gators Online.
“We were in and out, but I’ll be back and see what (campus is) like.”
Considering Ricks’ lofty ranking on the recruiting scene, it’s no surprise the Gators are pulling out all the stops in hopes of signing him roughly two years from now.
“Coach Napier basically told me when he looks at 24s, if they were 23s, would he take them? He said for me, he would take me if I was a 2023 corner. That’s the message he got across,” Ricks said.
The Corey Raymond effect
The proof is certainly in the pudding when dissecting the resume of Florida’s cornerbacks coach.
During his time in Baton Rouge, Corey Raymond was widely considered as the very best at manufacturing NFL talent in the secondary.
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Eric Reid, Tyrann Mathieu, Derek Stingley Jr. and Jamal Adams are just some of the names who were coached up by Raymond, so Ricks is highly intrigued by the possibilities under his guidance.
“Really, I like coach Raymond because I know I’d be developed by him,” Ricks said of his interest in UF. “I also like the rest of the new coaching staff. They all have knowledge of the game.”
In addition to the Gators, the 6-foot-1.5, 175-pound Ricks possesses offers from Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, LSU, Texas A&M, Oregon, Michigan, Miami and Florida State among others.
According to the On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine, the Crimson Tide is trending with odds of 44.2 percent.
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 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
