For Hylton running back Ricky Slade, a winter of accolades for accomplishments past is slowly transitioning into a spring of conditioning for accomplishments future.
Slade, who has been selected as RecruitNoVA.com’s Player of the Year, is ready to start the next chapter of his life, one that promises a lifetime of memories, perhaps more than 100,000, which happens to just about equal the number of fans that will fill Beaver Stadium at his next football home – Penn State.
On December 20, Slade, who rushed for 1,978 yards and 30 TD’s for Tony Lilly’s 9-4 Bulldog team, officially signed with the Nittany Lions, solidifying a commitment that has verbally been in place since February. Having his college choice in place before the start of his senior season, Slade was able to avoid distractions and reach for greater heights than his junior season, which saw over 1,500 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. With over 2,500 total yards and 40 TD’s (rushing, receiving, and returns) this season, the 5-9, 185-pound senior usually played a level above his competition, and his noteworthy games saw numbers that would constitute a good season for many of this peers.
Take the game against Colgan, for example. In a 64-35 win against the Sharks, Slade took the teeth out of the opposing defense on just 13 carries, gaining 353 yards with five touchdowns. That didn’t count the touchdown reception and two kick return scores. In all, the fleet tailback gained over 500 total yards and scored eight times.
Amazingly, he had previously scored eight TD’s in a game, three years before, as a freshman. However, Colgan was a young team, only in its first varsity season, and there were some fans who wanted to see Slade produce video game numbers in a contest of consequence.
The moment of truth came in this season’s second playoff game. Against previously undefeated Freedom, Slade sliced and diced the Eagle defense, gaining 326 yards on the ground and four touchdowns as Hylton upset Freedom 45-28.
According to Slade, the game served as the high point in a season full of them.
It only took eight days to hit the low point. Against a stifling Woodbridge defense, Slade was held to 34 yards on just 12 carries and a pair of short receptions, as the Vikings put an end to the Bulldogs’ Cinderella playoff run, winning the 6A region championship game 28-14.
In the end, Slade’s career numbers speak for themselves – 5,400 rushing yards and 91 combined touchdowns. The fans of Happy Valley are in for a treat.
Since the end of the Hylton season, Slade has maintained a busy schedule. He played in the Under Armour Bowl in Orlando, Fla., and scored a 14-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass against some of the best defenders in the nation.
Asked about his experience at one of the premier national All-Star games, the quietly confident Slade spoke of the game as another step in his upward trajectory.
“Everybody is fast,” said Slade, who has been timed at 4.48 in the 40-yard dash. “It’s not like high school where you can just outrun everybody.”
The other highlight was getting to play with some of his future Penn State teammates, including receivers Justin Shorter and Shaquon Anderson-Butts, along with end P.J. Mustipher. As fellow blue-chip players, the three new Nittany Lions are not strangers.
“We’ve known each other for a while. We’re real close!”
Last week, Slade traveled to Hawaii to take part in the Polynesian Bowl, keeping him away from most of the snow and slush that surrounded many of his friends and family in Prince William County.
The transition continues.
Slade will begin his tenure at State College when he leaves Virginia on June 23rd. In the meantime, he is heavy into his preparation phase.
“They gave me my (off-season) workout program, and I just switched over” said Slade, who has noted in the past that he plans on bulking up from his current 185 points to 205-210. “I have been working out four times a week.” Asked about the changes in the Penn State regimen compared to what he was doing previously, he noted that “it’s not really much different, with the (amount of) lifting and the running, but there’s just a little more.”
In essence, the Slade era at State College may have already begun. The Nittany Lions Class of 2018 football commits has been ranked as high as fourth nationally, and Slade, ranked as the second best all-purpose back in America as a five-star recruit is at the top of the crop.
Penn State, under coach James Franklin, just completed an 11-2 season which concluded with a 35-28 Fiesta Bowl win over Washington. In spite of their success, Slade has been asked to be ready to play --- soon.
“They have told me to expect a lot of early reps,” said Slade speaking of game reps and not practice.
Asked if he was nervous, exhilarated, or excited about the prospect to play in front of 106,572 fans at Beaver Stadium, Slade concluded with another understated, but frank response.
“All of the above.”
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