Penn State Football: 5 commits in 2018 class who’ll have instant impact

3. Ricky Slade, 5-star RB

With the departure of do it all running back Saquon Barkley, the Lions backfield this fall will look different. Miles Sanders should be the next man up, however Ricky Slade should get plenty of opportunities to make his mark as a freshman.

Slade hails from the talent rich area of Northern Virginia and was the number one overall player in the state. To say the least, Slade is fast. He runs a 4.48 40 yard dash time and his vision in the field is similar to Barkley. From the reports of his high school days, he can be a pain to deal with in open space. This could make him an option in the passing game as well. While the offense will be different with Ricky Rahne taking over at offensive coordinator, there will be similar concepts to what Joe Moorhead ran the previous two seasons. This involves getting your play makers in space.

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With Barkley gone and Andre Robinson announcing his transfer, there is no question Sanders will be getting the bulk of carries this season. It is his time and he has earned it. But Slade is too good to not be his backup and earn quality reps himself. Look for the coaches to get him involved as much as possible, including using his speed on the special teams.