Old Dominion and its football roster could benefit from a previous coach-player relationship.
Back in February, Penn State’s Ricky Slade entered the NCAA transfer database. Four months later, the running back still hasn’t found a new college football home. However, that could change in short order.
According to Matt Zenitz of al.com, Slade “will likely” transfer into the Old Dominion football program. As of yet, though, there has been no movement by either the program or the player.
One of the reasons why ODU is under consideration? Ricky Rhane was hired by the Monarchs as its next head coach last December. His previous job? As the offensive coordinator at Penn State.
A five-star member of the Nittany Lions’ 2018 recruiting class, Slade was rated as the No. 1 all-purpose running back in the country. Slade was also the No. 1 player regardless of position in the state of Virginia. Only two signees in PSU’s class that year, defensive end Micah Parsons and wide receiver Justin Shorter, were rated higher than Slade.
In two seasons in Happy Valley, Slade ran for 471 yards and eight touchdowns on 92 carries. This past season, he also caught 12 passes for another 105 yards.
Slade will likely have to sit out 2020, leaving him two years of eligibility moving forward.
Old Dominion is coming off a 1-11 football campaign. In early December, Bobby Wilder stepped down as the head coach at ODU. Wilder was the only coach the program had ever known.