Penn State was already off to a blistering start with its 2018 class. Commitments from seven recruits rated four-stars or higher was why the Lions had the No. 1 2018 class in the country.

Well, that No. 1 just got a little more legitimate.

The Lions made a huge Friday splash by picking up a commitment from five-star all-purpose back Ricky Slade:

Slade is the No. 1 all-purpose back and the No. 24 player overall in the 2018 class. His announcement came a week removed from visiting the Lions for their junior day.

The 5-9, 195-pound recruit is the No. 1 player in Virginia and the ninth verbal pledge to join Penn State’s 2018 class. He’s the second five-star commit for Penn State, joining defensive end Micah Parsons.

The Lions signed five-star tailback Miles Sanders in 2016 and Saquon Barkley burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2015.

It doesn’t appear that Penn State’s pipeline of elite tailbacks is drying up anytime soon.