Ricketts seeing increased BCS interest

Holland (Mich.) three-star linebacker Nathan Ricketts picked up three early offers from MAC programs, and has been seeing increased interest from BCS programs since the start of his senior season.

"I'm still talking to Mississippi State, Illinois, Cincinnati, NIU and Michigan State," Ricketts said. "Mississippi State has been in contact with me and told me they are pretty interested. They are just waiting to watch the film I sent down there. Cincinnati also said they are pretty interested, so we'll just see how everything comes out."

Illinois is a school that has become more prominent in Ricketts' recruitment since the West Michigan native took an unofficial visit to Champaign in August.

"I took a visit down there and that was definitely something that was eye-opening," Ricketts said. "They always seemed interested, but they told me I was right up there."

Ricketts is now looking for a time when he can take a visit to Illinois, and is aiming for the weekend of Nov. 12. He also is considering a trip to Toledo when they host Miami (Ohio) and Michigan State when they host Michigan.

Ricketts' father is an assistant coach at Division III Hope College in Holland, and Ricketts has attended two of their games this fall. He was hosted by Northern Illinois for a game earlier this fall.

"I went to see NIU play Wisconsin at Soldier Field," Ricketts said. "The Bears are my team, so that was an experience. To be able to go on the field there made it even more amazing."

The three schools that have already offered Ricketts are Central Michigan, Toledo and Western Michigan.

The 6-3, 215-pound Ricketts has been an extremely productive linebacker the last two seasons for the Dutch, and he is continuing that production as a senior with 50 tackles through four games. He also has collected two sacks and caught a touchdown pass from the tight end position for a 4-0 Holland team.

"This year I am getting a lot more help from my teammates," Ricketts said. "Our defensive line is great and our other linebackers have been playing great. We're just playing great as a team."