Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai praised rookie defensive back Eli Ricks for his performance this season.
"I think he's been humble, he prepares like a pro and he's learning, he's like a sponge, he just wants more and more information," Desai said. "He's trying to take on all these roles and learn so many different things and then he goes out there and competes. When he was not up and he was on the practice squad and playing out there, he's competing in those reps. That's kind of how you get noticed and you get elevated. In the meeting room, he's prepared, and then when you get your chance you make the best of it, and he's done a good job of that."
Ricks has played in seven games this season, recording five tackles, one pass defended and one tackle for loss. He played possibly his best game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 7 , allowing Tyreek Hill to catch zero passes on three targets when he was the primary defender.
Late in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins, Miami was facing a 4th-and-10 down 31-17. Tua Tagovailoa targeted Hill on a short out-breaking route and Ricks was all over him, swatting the ball away before it could get to Hill and forcing a turnover on downs.
The 22-year-old cornerback joined the Eagles as an undrafted free agent after a disappointing final season at Alabama. As a true freshman at LSU, he put up four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
Coming out of high school, he was a five-star recruit and one of the top cornerbacks in the country. Now, Philadelphia hopes that he can recapture what made him so special and become a solid defensive back.
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