#PennState has picked up a commitment from five-star running back Ricky Slade. https://t.co/x913UxZBeD @247Sports pic.twitter.com/Y2qpVQRyvBβ Lions247 (@Lions247) February 3, 2017
I'm a bit surprised, honestly.
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Long, long way to go yet until signing day.
Ricky , all Justin Fuente wants is to give him and the Hokies a chance before you sign. Keep an open mind. Represent your home state.
I guess he's really excited to sneak his way into the B1G championship game, beat an overmatched B1G West team then get snubbed for the playoffs. If that's your thing then more power to ya.

Personally I'd have gone for more of a "compete yearly for the ACC championship, you know the one that actually punches your ticket to the CFP" thing
EDIT: not really bitter about this, just trying to be funny. It's a long way til signing day and if this kid really wants to go to PSU, that's up to him.
Just to play devil's advocate, anOSU has been to a few natty title games recently...
Just a heads-up: beating Clemson in the ACCCG wouldn't have put us in the playoff.
I know that. I was merely stating that Penn State has just as good of a shot at making the CFP as we do. The original comment made it sound like VT has a much better shot than PSU.
Yep. Meant to be a response to hokie07me. Realized after I posted that I have no idea how to reposition it. Ha my bad
Lots of work still to go. Just remember, if there is a chance to flip him, you don't want any shots here that might drive him away.
And yes, recruits frequent this site and others to see what is being said about them.
can't fault him at all on his decision. Look at the two offenses and ask yourself which you'd rather play in as an elite RB.
saiquon barkley will probably be in the Heisman race and go pro and PSU has recruited OL well. They do have another top level RB ricky would have to compete with.
We need tmac to have a huge season or someone else at RB to start competing for top guys.
It's not over until the NLI is signed.
I can understand him commiting to an Ohio State/FSU/Clemson, but Penn State seriously? Long way to go until signing day, but just really strange. We need to make serious gains in the running game this year and prove that he's tailor-made for this offense.
They're doing some serious, serious selling.
Um why are people acting like this is so crazy? If he's too good for PSU then why should he commit to us instead? PSU is on the rise too and by all measures had a better 2016 then we did.
Beyond this past season, what has Penn State football done in the past 5-10 years to prove they are a superior program to VT? Unlike the toothless tiger that is the NCAA, I still have a stigma for that program because of what happened. The Cult of Paterno doesn't get any sympathy in my book. I'm just shocked that a recruit as significant and high-caliber as this one would be so Penn State.
We've absolutely been more relevant on the football field for the past 18ish years to be honest. That said, they have lots of tradition to fall back on. I'm not surprised they have managed to get going back in the right direction. Anytime a blue blood or close to blue blood school is down, it's only a matter of time. For example, it's fun to laugh at Texas losing to Kansas, but we all know that eventually Texas will be a top program again.
The anti-Penn State bias around here is ridiculous. Stop kidding yourselves, outside of a 5 year period following the Sandusky scandal, they have existed in a completely different tier above VT in college football, and this year put them back there for good.
Different tier because of money and history yes, different tier because they have been a better team, no. They have had plenty of years since 1999 where they didn't even make a bowl (not counting sanction years) then throw in the disgusting behavior by a large percentage of their fan base and it's an anointing of a child rapist protector as a saint. That program is *trash emoji.
Saying you don't have respect for them or their fans is one thing, but people acting like it's unbelievable that a recruit would pick them is another. Penn state at its absolute lowest point as a football program was perceived by most as a complete equal to Tech in just about everything with a better history of success on their side.
Penn State, after being rocked by arguably the worst scandal in sports history, decimated by scholarship reductions and transfers, and being ineligible for the post season was seen as equal to Virginia Tech? Wow, completely disagree with you right there.
Penn State managed to sail through their NCAA sanctions pretty easily.
Paterno's cover-up ultimately paid off for them.
Obviously this doesn't matter this early but PSU has overwhelmingly the #1 class for 2018 right now.
Man, Penn State fans are really going to hate us after next year's class
He's a great talent. Let CJF and his staff do their work this season and see the offensive results.
I've got a feeling this one won't be over until the NLI is signed
is he 2018?
Yes.
He reminds me so much of Travon replacement. It's not over yet.
FTFY
Dude wants to be a featured back and we didn't show anything this year that would prove Fuente will do that.
It's early and PSU is on a roll but trust me, this is far from over. the coaching staff has a great relationship and will keep the pedal to the medal. If we end back on top after another "rebuilding year" then top guys will take notice.
As far as recruiting goes this year, a lot of out of state recruiting to be expected. Kind of a down year in the state. Hunter's decision is causing ripples.
^^This^^. Until the staff shows a "feature back" I'm not sure they will ever be able to convince a blue chip RB to come to Blacksburg. I don't love that, but at the end of the day if Fuente's guy(s) is/are super productive, does it really matter?
NOTE: DYLAN RIVERS!!!!!!!!
Just a heads up, it's "pedal to the metal."
Sure it's not "peddle to the mettle?" /s
I'm sure that could be applicable in some bizarre way.
Now you're just meddlin' with what he's peddlin'.
Long way until NSD 2018. Enjoy the process, Ricky, just be willing to listen when Fuente comes calling. Because he will.
After 10+ wins and a big bowl appearance. I'm excited.
Please rep the state. Imagine all the people you grew up with, neighbors and friends and the joy brought into their lives helping bring a Natty to your home state. Be the ONE that brings IT home. This is HOME.
Maybe we can ask Mr. Kevin Jones to let Ricky know what's up.
Ouch.
I need to start auto-closing threads.