Ricketts Gets Big Reward for Hard Work

By Adam Froemming
Lincoln -- When senior Pat Ricketts leveled TCU's Shane Hudnall on the Horned Frogs' opening drive of the first game of the 2001 season, Husker Nation knew the cornerback from Omaha had arrived, but it took three years of hard work for the former walk-on from Millard North to get to that point.

"The biggest adjustment to the college game was the speed and the knowledge of the game," Ricketts said. "In high school, you just go cover a guy and follow him all game, where in college we have different plays, schemes and terminology."

With the ups and downs that go with playing college football, Ricketts has also had to learn to adjust to the situation no matter how difficult.

"The fellowship with other guys on the team has been big for me," Ricketts said of getting through the tough times. "Reading my Bible and becoming a Christian has also really helped me."

Ricketts' hard work and determination both on and off the field has paid big dividends. For his three pass breakups and three tackles against Arizona State in the season-opener last year, Ricketts was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Off the field, he is a two-time first-team Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, a three-time academic All-Big 12 honoree, and has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll seven times. For his work in the community, he was also a member of the 2002 Brook Berringer Citizenship Team.

All of that wouldn't have been possible if Ricketts hadn't decided to turn down a scholarship offer from New Mexico State and an appointment to West Point to walk on at Nebraska.

"It was tough because after that first year, I was wondering if I made the right choice in coming to Nebraska," Ricketts said. "I think it was tougher on my parents because I think they wanted me to pursue something where I would have gotten my college education paid for."

The Husker coaches are grateful he picked NU.

"He's worked hard to get better," defensive backs coach Marvin Sanders said. "There are many areas that he has improved in, but I think that the main thing is his confidence level. He believes in what he's doing and he has had success in doing it. Pat's earned that Blackshirt. Everyone knows how hard that young man has worked to get to that level."

In the 1999 season opener at Iowa, Ricketts was the lone freshman walk-on to make the travel squad, after being the only walk-on to be invited to fall camp. Despite fighting for playing time, it was decided a redshirt was the best option.

It paid off in the long run, as Ricketts earned a Blackshirt at the end of the 2001 season. His top performance came last season at Iowa State where he recorded 12 tackles. He had a career-best 10 pass breakups last year, the second-best total on the squad.

Despite NU going 7-7 last year, one of Ricketts' favorite moments as a Husker came last season.

"Last year's win at Texas A&M, coming back and winning that in a stadium like that was great," Ricketts said. "It just seemed that everything was going right. My other highlight would have to be the Rose Bowl, just being there and playing for a national championship was an awesome experience."

With new defensive schemes and coaches this season, Ricketts appreciates the adjustments that the new staff has made.

"The coaches are there to help us," Ricketts said. "They are going to adjust to the players and what personnel that they have. Breaking down film and watching it with them, they are such knowledgeable people of what needs to be done and what schemes we can implement to win the game. The coaches are able to get out there and get in our face and get us hyped up to play."

In the season-opener against Oklahoma State, Ricketts recorded three tackles, including a pair of solo stops and was instrumental in helping the Blackshirts shut down one of the Big 12's top receivers in Rashaun Woods.

"Going into the game, I had no reservations on putting Pat or any DB that we have on Rashaun Woods," Sanders said. "It takes 11 guys to stop him, and we did some things where I knew that Pat would have success."

Ricketts received his degree in business administration in August and is currently pursuing a master's degree. Ricketts will add to his busy schedule in May 2004, as he is engaged to be married to Kirstin Maurstad.

No matter what the future holds for Pat Ricketts, he'll be prepared to handle anything that comes his way.