When Julian Fleming signed with Ohio State in the 2020 cycle, it was looked at as a gigantic recruiting win for the Buckeyes. The Pennsylvania native was ranked as the 3rd overall player in the class and top wide receiver in the nation.
Unfortunately for Fleming, his time in Columbus has been a bit of a disappointment. It’s not really due to his play, injuries have derailed him from getting onto the field.
Buy Buckeyes TicketsThis past season, his junior year, Fleming was finally about to stay away from the trainers and put up solid numbers behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. He caught 34 passes for 533 yards with six touchdowns.
Julian Fleming stays hot. 🔥@julian_040 x @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/DFS6fVFFGe
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 1, 2022
Fleming’s production tailed off in the second half of the season, but finished strong with 5 receptions for 71 yards against Georgia. One could make the argument that since he had never played a full season of college football, his body wore down a bit.
That glimpse of what he could be has brought out some believers in his talent, specifically 247Sports Brian Dohn who named Fleming as a former highly-rated recruit that he still believes in.
Dohn thinks that Fleming “could be a player whose best and most productive days may be as a professional,” and it’s hard to argue against that. Count me in the camp that thinks that the former 5-star prospect still can make a mark for Ohio State, even though he’s playing with two 1,000 yard receivers.
New offensive coordinator Brian Hartline declared recently that the Buckeyes have three first round receivers on the team and he could very well be talking about Fleming being the other.
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