Versatile Ricobene Talks What’s Next For His Recruiting
College Coaches: If you’d like his contact info please reach out to me at mattlemming@lemmingprepinsider.com or DM me @lemminginsider.
I talked with Immaculate Conception’s 2018 QB/S Luke Ricobene: a versatile athlete being recruited heavily at multiple positions. I also spoke with IC Assistant Coach/Former NFL Safety/Current ESPN Staff Writer Matt Bowen on Luke on and off the field.
Luke Ricobene
Immaculate Conception
Elmhurst, IL
GPA: 4.40/4.00
Commitment status: Undecided
Twitter: @luke_ricobene
Wt: 170 lbs
Class: 2018
LPI: What are you going to do to take your game to the next level this offseason? Are you playing 7on7 or are you playing any other sports?
LR: I do not play any 7on7 because I run track and play basketball during the offseason. Running track has improved my speed for next year and going to lifting every morning with my team has built team chemistry and increased everyone’s strength. Also, I train with Coach Greg Holcomb at Next Level Athletix every week with other teammates to improve our team’s passing game.
LPI: You currently don’t have any offers, but I believe you have what it takes to play at the next level. What skill set can you bring to the table for a college football program?
LR: I believe my most valuable attribute is my versatility on the field. I have great coaches that have trained me to become a starting quarterback and also play safety on the defensive side of the ball. Since I am a dual threat quarterback and a defensive back, college coaches can play me at any skill position that the team needs to win.
LPI: Speaking of versatility, you’re a great athlete that excels at multiple positions. Which schools have shown serious interest in you and at what position(s) are they recruiting you as?
LR: I have talked to a wide range of schools from the D3 level up to D1. Most D3 and FCS/Ivy League schools prefer me at quarterback. Wash U, Carnegie Mellon, St. Thomas, Olivet, Columbia and Cornell have asked me to play QB at their camps. Western Michigan, Indiana State, and Iowa have all asked me to play defensive back at their camps.
LPI: Where have you visited/camped most recently and do you have any planned visits or camps set?
LR: I have attended one of North Central’s camps and the Northwestern showcase so far. This weekend I am traveling to New York to play QB at Cornell and Columbia’s camp.
LPI: On or off the field, how do you demonstrate leadership or go the extra mile for your teammates?
LR: Last year I was a team captain and starting quarterback, so I led by example on the field and let the senior captains lead the team vocally. This year I have assumed more of a vocal leadership position. I run our stretches and some drills in our morning weight lifting sessions.
LPI: Who are some of your teammates or training partners that you believe can play at the next level, but have gone overlooked by college coaches?
LR: I honestly believe all of our starters can play at the next level. Every player on our team works extremely hard during practice and the offseason, and has the physical abilities to succeed at the next level.
Lazerick Eatman – Has been overlooked by many, but he will have a breakout year offensively and defensively. Lazerick is a very quick and shifty back that can break a long run from a play that should’ve been stopped at the line. Also, he is a great cornerback and can lock down any receiver that lines up in front of him.
Khalil Saunders – Is also a very talented cornerback. His strength and physicality allows him to jam receivers on the line and deliver big hits. Khalil is also a great leader that the whole team respects, and he is a competitor that leaves everything he has on the field.
Coach’s Corner
Immaculate Conception Assistant Coach/Former NFL Safety/Current ESPN Staff Writer Matt Bowen on Ricobene on and off the field.
“Watching the tape on Luke Ricobene only tells half the story because the intangibles he brings to our program — the leadership, the toughness, the extremely high-character — are off the chart. He’s a winner, a player with the drive to compete and to challenge everyone. And it’s not just on the football field. Luke is a 3-sport athlete, an outstanding student in the classroom and he carries many of the same traits I saw from great players at both the college and NFL level. You want to build a winning culture? Then you need players like Luke who will produce on the field and act professional in everything they do.”