This past June, I was standing on the outdoor fields at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, watching a number of potential Buckeyes put their talents on display for the media and for the big cheeses of the Nike Football Training Camp. One of the players in attendance was Woodbridge, Virginia standout offensive lineman Matt Burrell, who was there not to camp, but to check out Ohio State's campus.
It was not the first time at Ohio State for Burrell, nor his line coach at C.D. Hylton, John Harris. It was, however, the first time at Ohio State for one of their young companions, Ricky Slade, Jr. Slade was mentioned to me in passing by Harris earlier in the summer, but admittedly, I kind of sloughed it off.
"We've got a kid — a running back — coming in next year," Harris told Eleven Warriors in May. "He's going to be great. Not good. Great. He loves the Buckeyes, always has."
Naturally, I assumed he was talking about a transfer student, someone moving into the area ready to take the lead in the Bulldogs offense from a rival school perhaps. When Harris clarified it was a kid who had just turned 14-years-old, my "Huh" detector started ringing. High school coaches, especially hard-assed offensive line coaches, are hardly the type to be so prone to hyperbolic rants. Even still, the whole "I have been a fan of [insert school covered by media member you're speaking to presently] my whole life" routine is a common one, and it rarely equates to much.
I met Slade, and his father Rick, that afternoon in May and my initial reaction was one of a subdued optimism. The Slades, Harris and Burrell, are all similarly wired, and that's a good thing. It's a personality and an approach based on modesty and humility, no matter how much attention and affection the media, coaches or anyone is giving you.
"We knew that Ricky was an exceptional athlete when he was four years old," Slade, Sr. shared with 11W. "It was kind of 'confirmed' about two years ago when he was competing against high school kids."
Two years ago, Junior was 12-years-old. Even now, as a 14-year-old high school freshman with three BCS scholarship offers — including one from his "dream school" Ohio State — Slade lines up only 5-foot-10 and 170-pounds. Worry not, there's not an ounce of fear in him, according to his father.
"He's never feared an opponent, because he's always had a lot of heart," his father continued. "Size will come, but for now he's only 14 but he's put together really solidly."
Slade's talent is evident, but wasn't on display in May for appraisal. What impressed me the most that Sunday afternoon in Columbus was a steady demeanor that belied what had to be a thrilled teenager getting his first look at big-time football on the campus he'd dreamed of playing. He was not shook by the enormity of the scene. That level-headedness is quickly becoming his calling card. It's helped him handle his sudden burst of recruiting attention well, according to his father.
"We've always tried to raise him to be humble," he said. "There's a lot of work to do before he really reaches any goals. So far, he's handling (the newfound attention) well, he knows if he focuses on school the rest will fall into place. It helps that he's got guys around him like Matt, who've been great with him, who've gone through it already."
One of the goals for Slade was to receive a scholarship offer from Ohio State. The childhood (ironic usage of the term, considering he's 14, I know) favorite Buckeyes became the third offer for the speedster. Larry Johnson, Sr. gave Slade the good news, as Ohio State joined the two major in-state schools, Virginia and Virginia Tech, who'd offered just days before.
"The Ohio State offer meant a whole lot to him," his dad said about Jr.'s offer. "That offer let him know hard anything he dreamed about is possible. (Larry) Johnson is a great guy, and he's very honest about his opinions. He doesn't sugarcoat anything and that's something we like."
What did Johnson see that he liked?
"Johnson saw him play in person," Slade, Sr. said, referencing a visit two weeks ago by Johnson and offensive line coach Ed Warinner. "They said they really liked his game, how hard he played and how respectable he was on the field. They also said they really like the feedback from his coaches on what kind of kid he is off the field."
Big-time offers as a freshman doesn't necessarily mean that Slade's recruiting calendar will be hastened by any significant margin. The plan is still to take his time and explore all his options, according to his father.
"Starting this early does help, without question," Slade said just days after he and his son visited the University of Maryland for their home game against Ohio State. "But I imagine he'll be waiting as long as possible before he decides. There's absolutely no rush. We don't have a date in mind yet, but we'll be returning to Ohio State soon."
