JUCO linebacker on the rise

Alfred State Community College is home to one of the most talented jumbo athletes in the region and the school will be frequented by plenty of college coaches in the coming months.

Kyle Ricks is a 6-foot-4, 245-pound prospect with the ability to play either linebacker or defensive end in college. He has an offer from Temple and the Owls have made a convincing case for why they would be a good fit for him so far.

"I'm not exactly sure when they offered me," Ricks said of Temple. "It was probably like two weeks ago.

"They came by the school to talk to my coach. It wasn't a coach but it was somebody from there. We have a wide receiver that goes there named (Rod) Streater from our school. I guess they came to see if we had any more players they might want. Our coach showed them some game film of me and they liked it.

"They're recruiting me to play linebacker in the 3-4 defense, which is what they play. I would basically be like a stand up end but I would still play linebacker. I think I'm a better athlete in a 3-4 defense. If I went to a 4-3 I would most likely play defensive end. I think I could do better as a stand up linebacker kind of like Shawne Merriman or DeMarcus Ware."

Temple is the only school that has offered so far so the Owls are Ricks' only option thus far. They aren't the only school that's interested, though.

"My coach told me that Syracuse visited but they didn't offer me," he said. "Kentucky has interest in me and so does Ole Miss. I heard Oregon wanted to get in contact with me and Iowa State was looking at me, too.

"I don't have a favorite at this point but I'm liking Temple because they've stayed in contact with me and I know someone that goes there (Streater). That was one of the first people I met when I came here and he's from New Jersey, too."

Ricks is so interested in Temple he has already set up an official visit to the school for August 14th. That doesn't mean he's hoping to make a very early commitment, though.

"I'm going to wait it out a while," he said. "I'm liking Temple but my main focus is on our season coming up. I'm trying to help us do big things this year."