'2020-2023 WR - Julian Fleming (Transfer to Penn State)

Final call: Will it be Ohio State for Julian Fleming?
We’re within one day of a decision being made by 5-star receiver Julian Fleming, the country’s top-ranked prospect at the position.

A 6-foot-2, 210-pound wideout, Fleming will make his final announcement on Friday. There’s no specific time that has been made public for an announcement, but he’ll be deciding between Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama, Georgia and Penn State. The Southern Columbia (Catawissa, Pa.) standout has offers from every major program in the country, but his recruitment has been focused on a smaller group of schools since February.

Growing up within 90 miles of Penn State, it was always supposed to be the Nittany Lions that Fleming would pick. But Brian Hartline’s influence on this recruitment really changed the direction it was heading after his a visit he made to the school last November when Ohio State hosted Nebraska.

It’s hard to bet against the local school, but there seemed to be a desire on Fleming’s part to get away from home. He made springtime visits to Clemson and Georgia and also took his only official visit to Alabama — and then returned to Ohio State in March for a key two-day trip that had “Student Appreciation Day” as a backdrop.

That weekend, Fleming spent most of his time with Buckeyes commitment Lejond Cavazos. It seemed that the rest of the recruiting world began to see that Ohio State was positioning itself for a huge upset.

But that was two months ago and Fleming has made only one visit anywhere since: Alabama. It’s hard to discount what the Crimson Tide and Clemson are able to do on the recruiting trail. But this comes down to feel and Fleming’s reaction following his March trip to Ohio State has resonated with me as I’ve tried to analyze and evaluate the tea leaves that are his recruitment.

“The whole staff, they always show me love,” Fleming said after that visit. “It is starting to be an at-home feeling, especially with the players.”

It’s important for Fleming to feel comfortable because leaving home is a big deal for him. He’s incredibly close to his mother and his grandfather, and the idea of leaving them for a place he isn’t 100-percent at home is a non-starter.

Penn State isn’t going to go away, and neither will Clemson, Georgia and Alabama. But on Friday, Ohio State is likely to be the program celebrating.

Final Call: Buckeyes.

 

Julian Fleming: Top-ranked wide receiver picks Ohio State https://t.co/p4iQf6FGsh

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) May 31, 2019

 

I said last summer that if Ohio State landed Julian Fleming, it would be one of the most impressive recruiting wins by Urban Meyer in Columbus. For Ryan Day to get that win, less than six months into the job, is borderline unbelievable. #Buckeyes

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) May 31, 2019

For one, top talent from that area goes to Penn State. It just does. Then you throw in schools like Alabama and Georgia, as well as Clemson who seems to be getting everyone they want in 2020, it's an incredibly impressive recruiting job by Day and Brian Hartline.

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) May 31, 2019

 

Fleming announced his decision with a video on Twitter (📹 @julian_040) pic.twitter.com/6VvayX5JM5

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) May 31, 2019

 

#BOOM: Five-star Pennsylvania recruit and No. 1 2020 wide receiver Julian Fleming commits to Ohio State. https://t.co/tynX8PDuc0

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) May 31, 2019

 

2020 Pennsylvania 5-star WR Julian Fleming commits to Ohio State. https://t.co/VJvq4PdyQ2

— Buckeye Sports Bulletin (@Buckeye_Sports) May 31, 2019

 

No. 1 receiver Julian Fleming breaks down his commitment to #OhioState via @RivalsFriedman https://t.co/jmnU7fFxpo #Buckeyes

— Marc Givler (@MarcGivler) May 31, 2019

 

Analyzing impact of Julian Fleming committing to Ohio State https://t.co/b94ObFuQu8

— Lettermen Row (@LettermenRow) May 31, 2019

 

With the addition of 5-star WR @julian_040 the #Buckeyes have now moved back into the Top 10 in the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings. And going by player average they are now No. 3 in the country. https://t.co/QGKKCJVBgj

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) May 31, 2019

 

Julian Fleming Picks the Buckeyes
As I addressed in yesterday’s Hurry Up and many knew before then, five-star wide receiver Julian Fleming was announcing his commitment today, and he chose Ohio State.

I outlined most of what his commitment means for the Buckeyes in this impact piece, but just to touch on it further, Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline really made this happen. Obviously, it’s a family feeling among the entire staff when a recruit is moving away from home, but Hartline planted quite a seed in Fleming’s mind entering the 2019 calendar year. Without that, there was no chance Ohio State could make a case for itself throughout the spring.

Fleming even talked about family in his commitment video. Family is of high value to him.

Fleming’s commitment pushed Ohio State to the top of the Big Ten for its 2020 recruiting class, and the Pennsylvania is now considered Ryan Day’s biggest recruiting victory to date.

In Day’s first offseason, he’s earned a commitment from the 247Sports Composite No. 3 recruit all-time at Ohio State in Julian Fleming – behind Terrelle Pryor and Ted Ginn Jr. – as well as a commitment from 2021 No. 2 overall recruit Jack Sawyer, who is projected by 247Sports to be Ohio State’s second-highest rated prospect of all-time. Both of them committed to Day’s staff specifically and are obviously expected to sign with the Buckeyes.

No. 2 2019 wideout Garrett Wilson committed to Urban Meyer’s staff but signed to Day’s staff. He’s the 23rd-best Ohio State signee of all-time.

In an interview with ESPN, Fleming said at different times during his recruitment, he thought he was going to Penn State, Clemson and Ohio State but ultimately settled on Ohio State because of the family vibe he got from the staff and players.

It also appears Clemson was closer than what most recruiting experts thought.

"I'm not going to lie, I'm still in their group chat," Fleming told ESPN. "They were all recruiting me really hard, but they understood and respected my decision, and once I told them I wasn't going to Clemson, they all said good luck. I talk to D.J. [Uiagalelei] all the time, and he's one of those kind-hearted people that was just like, 'You're going to do it wherever you go,' so that was a cool thing."

Fleming also told ESPN what many recruits have been saying about Ohio State – that he likes the Brand U program that creates individual brands for Ohio State players and the Real Life Wednesdays program that brings in speakers from outside of football to talk to the team.

But, as was expected, bringing in sophomore transfer quarterback Justin Fields has been a big recruiting advantage for the Buckeyes. It worked for Fleming too.

"Ohio State's offense was clicking last year; it was definitely a big influence," Fleming said. "They were like No. 1 in passing all year. They have Justin Fields coming in now, and they have some people that are going to be there for a little while.”