{"id":165770,"date":"2022-12-23T02:23:59","date_gmt":"2022-12-23T02:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/desmond-ricks-becomes-7th-5-star-prospect-in-alabama-footballs-2023-class\/"},"modified":"2022-12-23T02:23:59","modified_gmt":"2022-12-23T02:23:59","slug":"desmond-ricks-becomes-7th-5-star-prospect-in-alabama-footballs-2023-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/desmond-ricks-becomes-7th-5-star-prospect-in-alabama-footballs-2023-class\/","title":{"rendered":"Desmond Ricks becomes 7th 5-star prospect in Alabama football’s 2023 class"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Alabama signed a heralded six five-stars on Wednesday to start the early signing period. Why not add another? <\/p>\n

A historic 2023 class got even better as five-star Desmond Ricks revealed his commitment to the Crimson Tide. The IMG (Fla.) Academy star was initially set to announce his college future next year, but a November reclassification but another elite defensive back on the board. And as has been the case for multiple blue chips this cycle, Nick Saban and co. made the most of the opportunity. <\/p>\n

Ricks, a 6-foot-1, 170-pounder becomes the 28th member of Alabama’s top-ranked signing class. The Virginia native is ranked 23rd overall and the No. 2 cornerback in the 247Sports Composite. Assistant coaches Travaris Robinson and Robert Gillespie helped pull Ricks to the Tide away from his other finalists, LSU and Florida.<\/p>\n

MORE signing day fallout: <\/b>Every recruit from Alabama football’s class of 2023 with highlights<\/b><\/p>\n

Grading Alabama and Auburn football’s 2023 recruiting classes<\/b><\/p>\n

College coaches, Nick Saban recap NIL’s ‘crazy’ impact on 2023 recruits<\/b><\/p>\n

Ricks had commanded attention from recruiting evaluators and scouts through his teenage seasons (he recently turned 18) and was nationally recognized by MaxPreps as a sophomore. He’ll compete in the Under Armor All-America Game, aired on ESPN on Jan. 3. Ricks is the first recruit to pick Alabama from the national powerhouse since edge Jihaad Campbell and offensive lineman Tyler Booker did so in 2022. <\/p>\n

With IMG, Ricks worked as an inside defender. Opposed to Alabama’s five other defensive back commits, Ricks has the potential to be a cover corner on the boundary with his athleticism and ball skills. Saban noted during his signing day press conference that cornerback was \u201cone of the most difficult positions to find\u201d on the recruiting trail.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s becoming a little bit more popular. I think five years ago there wasn’t a huge precedent,\u201d Sports Illustrated’s director of recruiting John Garcia Jr. in November said of Ricks’ reclassification. \u201c… But Ricks does it without having completed the recruiting process and now he’s jumping into official visits to multiple schools. It’s that part that is more rare. … Ricks is both good enough and coveted enough to do that. A lot of these kids wouldn’t necessarily have a spot this late in the year making a decision like that but not only does Ricks have that, there was some chatter in the summer.\u201d <\/p>\n

For a majority of his rushed recruitment, Ricks was tied to Brian Kelly and LSU. He was in Death Valley for the Tigers’ upset of then-No. 6 Alabama on Nov. 5. LSU also earned the coveted final visit, bringing Ricks on campus last weekend. Since April, Ricks had visited Tuscaloosa at least thrice, including an official stop during the Iron Bowl. <\/p>\n

The morning before Ricks’ announcement, a batch of current LSU commits tweeted final pitches. Kelly’s group is ranked seventh nationally with 25 signees. But when it was time to pick a hat and cement his future, Ricks looked for the signature ‘A.’ <\/p>\n

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter <\/i>@nick_a_alvarez<\/i><\/a> or email him at <\/i>NALvarez@al.com<\/i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n