Feature story on ODU senior linebacker, TJ Ricks.
TJ Ricks led Conference USA and ranked in the top 10 in the nation for tackles at the conclusion of the 2015 season.
An impressive feat for any defensive player, consider the fact that the Hampton native walked-on to Old Dominion without a scholarship offer from the Monarchs, or from anywhere else, for that matter.
“I wasn’t a part of a winning team in high school, and I liked that ODU was a winning team, so I wanted to be a part of that,” the senior linebacker recalled. “I received preferred walk-on invites from a few other CAA schools, but ODU just felt like home.”
Fast-forward a few years. Ricks has been named a semifinalist for the Brandon Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to the most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field, and has led the Monarchs in tackles in consecutive seasons.
Now a senior captain and leader of ODU’s first Bowl eligible team, Ricks reflects on the added motivation that his initial walk-on status instilled within him.
“I felt like I was overlooked coming out of high school. I knew I had what it took to compete at the highest level, but I would just have to work hard for it. I had to come in here with a little chip on my shoulder because of that.”
At 8-3 and 6-1 in the conference, the Monarchs have not only secured bowl eligibility but are also still in contention to win the conference, which was their number one goal for the season all along.
With a team-high 87 tackles, the modest, team-oriented Ricks is pleased with how the defense has played so far this season as a unit.
“I feel like we are doing really well. We haven’t given up a lot of points, especially lately, and we are getting back to our fundamentals and trusting each other. We are reading our keys and just playing good football.”
Entering the final game of the regular season against FIU, Ricks knows the defense must rise to the occasion.
“To get where we want to be as a team, we need to stop our opponents from putting up a lot of points. Our goals are to keep them under 21 points and to get off the field as fast we can.”