2016: Led the team with 102 tackles and had six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a sack ... The 102 tackles is the third most in a single-season in school history ... Set the ODU career record with seven forced fumbles ... Finished his ODU career with 323 tackles, 17 behind all-time leader, Craig Wilkins Led the team in tackles five times ... First player in ODU history to record two 100 tackle seasons ... Had three double-digit tackle games ... Had a team-high nine tackles in the season-opening win over Hampton ... Notched five tackles at Appalachian State ... Led ODU with a team-high 11 tackles at NC State ... Recorded a season-high 14 tackles in the win over UTSA ... Had seven tackles in the 52-17 win at Charlotte ... Registered five stops in the win over UMass ... Made six tackles in the win at UTEP and four in the win over Marshall ... Recorded 11 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in the win over Southern Miss ... Was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week ... Had six tackles each against FAU and FIU ... Finished his ODU career with nine tackles and a tackle for loss in the Monarchs' 24-20 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl win over Eastern Michigan ... Was named Defensive MVP of the game.
2015: Second-Team All-Conference USA ... A semi-finalist for the Brandon Burlsworth Trophy given to the best player that started his career as a walk-on ... Started all 12 games at linebacker ... Led Conference USA and set an ODU single-season record with 123 tackles ... Finished 11th in the country in tackles per game with 10.2 ... Had six double-digit tackle games on the year ... Had a game-high 14 tackles and one tackle for loss in the season-opening win at Eastern Michigan ... Registered a season low five tackles and two pass breakups in the win over Norfolk State ... Recorded 10 tackles and a pass breakup versus NC State ... Totaled eight tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery in the loss to Appalachian State ... Notched a game-high 13 tackles and a pass breakup at Marshall ... Set a school record with 18 tackles in the win over Charlotte ... Notched his first sack of the season, 2.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery that he returned 28 yards ... Was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week ... Had a game best nine tackles at FIU ... Finished the game versus WKU with seven tackles ... In the win at UTSA, had 10 tackles and half a sack ... Notched nine tackles, a tackle for loss and two pass breakups in the 31-21 win over UTEP ... Recorded six tackles at Southern Miss ... In the finale against FAU had 14 tackes, a sack and his first career interception ... Ranks fourth in school history with 221 career tackles.
2014: Played all 12 games, making 10 starts ... Finished second on the team with 80 tackles ... Also second on the team with seven tackles for loss ... Add 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries and a C-USA best four forced fumbles ... Notched 10 tackles in the win over Eastern Michigan ... Had five tackles in the C-USA opening win at Rice ... Secured nine tackles against MTSU ... Had 11 tackles at UTEP ... Had a career-best 14 tackles in the come-from-behind win against FIU ... Recorded eight tackles in the overtime triumph over LA Tech ... Had nine tackles in the win over FAU ... Led team in tackles three times.
2013: Played in all 12 games at linebacker and on special teams ... Produced 18 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a QB hurry ... Had season-best five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in win at Norfolk State.
2012: Redshirted.
High School: Preseason First Team Defense ... All-757 Preps Second Team Peninsula District ... All-District Honorable Mention ... Helped Kecoughtan to a 6-4 record as a senior in 2011, the Warriors to their first winning season since 2005 ... As a senior moved to defensive end where he recorded 89 tackles (53 solo, 36 assisted), 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception returned for a touchdown.
Personal: Son of Michael and Beverly Ricks ... Has one brother, Michael, and one sister, Keyna ... Majoring in computer engineering.
TJ RICKS CAREER STATS
| Year | Games | UT | AT | TOTAL | TFL | Sacks | INT | FF | FR | PBU |
| 2013 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 2.5-5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | 12 | 41 | 39 | 80 | 7.0-30 | 2.5-21 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 | 12 | 47 | 76 | 123 | 5.5-16 | 2.5-11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 2016 | 13 | 48 | 54 | 102 | 6.0-17 | 1.0-8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| TOTAL | 49 | 144 | 179 | 323 | 21-68 | 6-40 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 13 |