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Former 5-star RB Ricky Slade enters transfer portal

By Cameron Michael

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 26: Running back Ricky Slade #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is pursued by defensive end Kenny Willekes #48 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 26, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 26: Running back Ricky Slade #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is pursued by defensive end Kenny Willekes #48 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Spartan Stadium on October 26, 2019 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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Despite perhaps one of the best running back stables in the country entering the calendar year on roster, Ricky Slade has decided to enter the transfer portal after just two years in Happy Valley.

Ricky Slade has entered the transfer portal after just two years with Penn State, leaving behind perhaps the nation’s best backfield and group of running backs with Journey Brown, Noah Cain and a cast of younger backs. Slade totaled 471 rushing yards in two seasons with the Nittany Lions on 92 attempts.

He did add an impact in the passing game in 2019, catching 12 balls out of the backfield for 105 yards and finished with eight career total touchdowns in his Penn State tenure. He’ll enter the transfer portal with three years to play two seasons left of eligibility.

The transfer portal was introduced in 2018 and the influx of players transferring has been one of the biggest changes over the past two and half years in college football. While a player entering their name in the transfer portal means they intend to explore their options, it does not necessarily mean they will leave. A player is free to withdraw his name at any time. However, schools are under no obligation to keep a player on scholarship once they enter the portal.

Schools are now free to contact Slade without restriction once their name appears in the portal.

While Ricky Slade did see five touches for 58 yards in the Cotton Bowl victory over Memphis to close out the season last year, the bowl performance also saw a breakout game from Journey Brown as he eclipsed 200 yards in the outing. Brown was clearly the leader of the pack at the end of the season and heading towards the 2020 campaign. Also, there is some serious running back help on the way and the former 5-star running back has apparently thought to seek greener pastures.

Caziah Holmes has entered the fold as a 4-star running back out of Florida and will certainly push for playing time as well this fall. Fell 4-star running back Keyvone Lee also joins the 2020 recruiting class for Penn State this year.

Slade was a top recruit of the 2018 cycle and was ranked as the nation’s No. 1 all-purpose back for his class by 247Sports. He may not have gotten the touches one would have thought a No. 1 running back should have gotten but that just speaks to how well Brown has performed in his Penn State tenure, not to mention Noah Cain’s emergence.

The running back room in Happy Valley sure takes a hit with Slade’s departure into the transfer portal but with the incoming true freshman and Brown’s emergence late last season, it should still be a dominant year out of the backfield for the Nittany Lions. We wish you the best, Ricky, just don’t go to another Big Ten school.

This is a developing story, stay tuned for more.

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