Why 5-star LSU football signee is beyond special

LSU football finished the recruiting cycle with one of the top rated 2020 signing classes in the nation.

If Arik Gilbert is the offensive star of LSU football’s 2020 signing class, then Elias Ricks is the defensive star.

Ricks, 6-foot-3/186 lbs, signed with LSU in December as the No. 2 cornerback in the nation and the No. 14 overall player in the nation.

The five-star California native, who transferred to IMG Academy in Florida to finish his high school career, signed with the Tigers over programs like Alabama, Auburn and USC (where his mom went to school).

So what is LSU getting in Ricks? Aside from a potential shutdown cornerback who runs a 4.40 in the 40?

The Tigers are getting a player who is more than just a five-star talent.

Ricks eats, breathes and sleeps football. There is no keeping him off the field — not even when he’s hurt.

A recent article from The Athletic about Ricks paints a picture of a kid from Southern California who wants to consume football 24/7. He just wants to play — no matter the situation.

Ricks played his entire senior season at IMG with a torn labrum. The Athletic noted that he had surgery scheduled the day after his final game of the season, against Hoover High School. There was nothing on the line. The game, essentially, meant nothing. Which meant there was no reason for Ricks to suit up.

But Ricks still wanted to play. Even though he was already locked in at LSU and had nothing to gain.

That’s just how much he loves football.

Ricks played. And he intercepted the Hoover quarterback.

No surprise.

Ricks has the mentality to be one of the best players in the nation. He’s a game changing defensive player that should immediately pay dividends for LSU.

The California native will miss most of spring practice recovering from surgery on his labrum, but the fact that he’s already enrolled on Campus, and will go through team meetings, should allow him to be up to speed this fall.

I’d expect Ricks, much like Derek Stingley Jr, to make a big impact as a true freshman.

Speaking of Stingley Jr, the combination of him and Ricks is going to be ridiculous in Baton Rouge for the next couple of years.

Good luck to all the other quarterbacks in the SEC. They’re going to need it against the Tigers’ secondary.