Examining Penn State Football’s ROI from 2018 recruiting Class
2. RB Ricky Slade
Running back Ricky Slade was a product of the DMV, a fertile recruiting ground for Penn State Football going back to the Joe Pa Days.
Slade was a five-star prospect, ranked as the 27th best player in the country and had other offers from the likes of Clemson, Ohio State and Florida to name a few. The running back was the No. 3 ranked player in Penn State Football’s 2018 class.
The five-foot-nine and 185 pound running back came to Happy Valley and saw some action as a freshman, spelling starter Miles Sanders. Slade was quick, and good burst in the open field but was a little undersized for an every down back in the Big Ten.
The following year, the Virginia native was listed as the starter on the season’s first depth chart, however it was clear almost immediately in their week 1 game against Idaho that Journey Brown and Noah Cain were going to get carries and possessed traits Slade just did not have.
Brown had that same burst and ‘track speed’ while also having the frame to handle the workload, while Cain, listed at upwards of 225 pounds was the hammer and a one-cut, down hill type of back.
Slade would end up running for 471 yards on 92 carries with eight touchdowns in his two seasons in State College, but the running back room was just too crowded and he decided to transfer, ending up at Old Dominion with his former offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne.
Old Dominion did not play football last season due to COVID-19, and now Slade has again put his name into the transfer portal.
Honorable Mention Misses
There are a few other players from that 2018 cycle that were misses that fans thought would one day play a major role for the Nittany Lions. Not quite the misses of five-star players like Shorter and Slade, but misses none the less.
WR – Daniel George – George came in and basically replaced Justin Shorter after his injury and took his reps once he came back. George looks the part at six-foot-two and 210 pounds, however has only mustered 18 receptions for 285 yards and one touchdown in three seasons.
A former four-star recruit out of the DMV, he does not have good hands and now seems buried behind freshman Parker Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith on the depth chart. When you couple his struggles with the fact he was one of the reasons Shorter potentially moved on, it looks a lot worse for Penn State Football.
LB – Jesse Luketa – This name may come as a surprise as Luketa stepped in and started at middle linebacker this season after Micah Parsons opted out due to COVID-19. However, Luketa really struggled this season, especially tackling in space and was even called out by name by defensive coordinator Brent Pry mid season.
It would be a surprise if Luketa is starting again next season, and the inability to develop the Canadian prospect falls on the staff. If he is not starting, he is another four star recruit from that 2018 freshman class that will be on the sidelines in 2021.