sjearthquakes.com: You’ve been removed from the San Jose Earthquakes Academy for a little under a year. Now that you have some time to reflect, how do you think the academy system prepared you for success at the collegiate level?
John-Austin Ricks: “I feel like the academy system has prepared me for the highest level of soccer in college. I almost feel like the level of soccer in the academy is higher than the collegiate level. Collegiate soccer is taking these incredible players with the highest athletic ability added onto that, especially in the ACC. That’s what makes it more difficult to play college soccer. The academy level is so high now that I feel like it prepared me well for Syracuse.”
SJEQ: You enjoyed a lot of success as captain with the academy and a number of you went to play at your respective schools across the country. Do you guys still keep in contact?
JR: “Definitely. I always reach out to the guys, especially if I’ve seen that they played or had success on the field. A few of the guys have been Armon [Ojula], Rei [Dorwart] and a couple of the new guys that I’ve been keeping in touch with. I’m pretty sure Rei scored his first collegiate goal the other night, so I’ve been keeping in touch. It’s hard though from across the country because of the time difference, but I love hearing from the guys.”
SJEQ: For Earthquakes fans who may not know much about you or your game, what type of player is John-Austin Ricks?
JR: “I’m a player who’s going to do whatever it takes to step on the field and make an impact. I’m always going to be working, even if I’m not having my best game. I’m always going to try and be a leader. Tactically, especially in these past years, I bring an athletic presence to the field, but also a calmness on the ball going forward. I also try and bring a positive influence on the field. I’ve seen a lot of teammates in the past who have been hit with a negative comment or something like that and it takes them out of their game. I try and be positive and not cause any conflict on the field."
SJEQ: On Wednesday you made your eighth start against Pitt. As a freshman playing key minutes, what would you say is the biggest difference between the academy level and the collegiate level?
JR: “It’s a whole different level. You go against these guys that are just ridiculous athletes. In the ACC, there’s such a great athletic ability plus a high quality of soccer. Overall, the experience level of the players and the athletic ability is a big difference. Some of the players, especially the European players, are a lot older than me. It’s awesome training and playing with these guys, but at the same time it’s really hard to play against them. It’s been a great learning experience so far."
SJEQ: Take us through your first collegiate goal against Hartford.
JR: “It was funny because it was against a school in my home state having grown up in Connecticut. It was a corner kick and I usually don’t get in on corner kicks but my coach pushed me up into the box. It wasn’t the cleanest goal, but I headed the ball in off of the corner kick and I didn’t know how to react. It didn’t really hit me until my teammates come over to celebrate."
SJEQ: I had to bring this up. Your team’s heading video went viral back in August. Take us through how that all went down.
JR: “I think it was the first week that we were together, too. We were all still getting to know each other. We were in the locker room one day and a couple of us were just heading the ball around. A couple more kids joined in and we started heading it in the circle. We decided to get the whole team involved and record it. We were sitting in the locker room after practice and we said before we leave we have to get the ball in the trash can. Finally, we got it and we all went crazy. It was cool because it was an ice breaker for a lot of us."
Come out and support this talented group of young men Friday night at 7pm as we take on UMass #DareToDreampic.twitter.com/12Jx5v8UPp
— SU Men's Soccer (@CuseMSOC) August 22, 2016
SJEQ: Syracuse is a bit of an adjustment from Diablo. How has it been getting acclimated the university on and off the field?
JR: “I’m used to the weather. I prefer the cold and the snow. Syracuse is a tough university academically. The academy really prepared me for my time management. In the academy, I would leave school right after and drive and hour or and hour and a half to practice and I wouldn’t get home until 10 or 11 at night. It was an adjustment at first but I feel like I’ve gotten acclimated."
SJEQ: You guys have a big ACC Championship match against #3 Clemson this Sunday. What will the preparation be like for you guys looking ahead into the NCAA tournament?
JR: “Clemson is a big-time rival for us. Last year we played them three times and lost to them in the Final Four. This game is all about revenge and the rivalry and everyone on the team is ready. The mental preparation is going to be the most important piece. It’s such a big-time game so it’s important that everyone comes prepared. Clemson is a very good team so we have to leave it all out on the field."
