Committany Nation: Justin Shorter and Ricky Slade JR Shine at The Opening

Penn State Commits Ball Out at The Opening

Ricky Slade JR and Justin Shorter were the lone representatives for the Nittany Lions at The Opening this past week, but the duo both turned in standout performances, helping lead their 7-on-7 squad (which included Justin Fields and Solomon Enis) to a victory in the championship game.

Steve Wiltfong of 247 said that Shorter made a strong case for a fifth star:

Penn State receiver commit Justin Shorter also continued to make a case for his fifth star with eight receptions and three touchdowns on the day. Arguably the top downfield threat in the tournament with his combination of size and speed, Shorter also showed his prowess in the red zone defeating Houston Griffith on a 1-on-1 ball for a score.

Hank South of 247 named Ricky Slade his “Alpha Dog” among the group of running backs on Saturday night:

Ricky Slade showed why he’s rated the No. 1 all-purpose back in the country on the evening. After putting his route-running ability on display early in the practice, the Penn State commit separated himself from the pack in the cat-and-mouse portion. The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder flashed quickness and ability to change direction on a dime. He won more reps than any other back on the night by my count.

While these camp settings don’t always tell the true story, it looks like Penn State is adding two supremely talented offensive weapons.

Solomon Enis Trending Toward Penn State?

The Penn State legacy was also out in Oregon, and if Steve Wiltfong’s Crystal Ball is any indication, the younger Enis could be following in his Dad’s footsteps to Penn State.

While a July visit is still possible, Enis will be back on campus in September when he officially visits Happy Valley for the Indiana game, according to PennLive. The Nittany Lions already have Shorter committed, and should know the decisions of Jahan Dotson and Daniel George sometime this summer, so there’s a chance that Enis will be visiting while the Nittany Lions already have three committed receivers. Although the numbers are always fluid, I’d expect Penn State to push that number to four if Enis wants in.

Miner Deciding This Thursday

As a reminder, four-star Florida defensive back Jordan Miner will be announcing his commitment this Thursday. The Nittany Lions are the heavy favorites according to 247’s Crystal Ball, having 86% of the 14 predictions. If Miner commits to Penn State, he’d join Texas’ Trent Gordon as the second cornerback in the class.