At long last, Julian Fleming made his debut in Beaver Stadium as a member of the Penn State football program. It’s been a long and winding road for the one-time top recruit in Pennsylvania to find his way back to Happy Valley, but the grad transfer is ready to make an impact for the Nittany Lions in his final season. According to quarterback Drew Allar, the former Ohio State Buckeye is already well on his way to transforming the Penn State wide receiver room. Following Saturday’s Blue-White Game, Allar spoke about how Fleming has helped to reshape the habits of the Nittany Lion receivers this spring.
Drew Allar: Julian Fleming has been a great addition to Penn State wide receiver room
James Franklin was finally able to rectify one of the biggest “what ifs” from the recruiting trail during his time at Penn State this offseason, bringing in former five-star wide out Julian Fleming from the transfer portal.
The reviews for the Keystone State’s top recruit-turned-Buckeye have been stellar all spring, and that was no different Saturday. But after the Blue-White Game, Drew Allar explained in greater detail Fleming’s impact on the Nittany Lions this spring.
“I definitely bounce a lot of things off of him,” Allar said postgame. “Just in general, it could be about anything. Julian is a really good guy to talk to because, obviously, it’s a different perspective, and it’s a perspective that we have on our side of the ball.
“And I think he’s been a great addition to that room – his toughness, his physicalness in that room. He’s done a really good job of making contested catches for us this spring. So, excited to keep building our relationship and seeing the added value that he’ll have over the summer.”
It was a relatively quiet opening act for Julian Fleming in Beaver Stadium, only hauling in one reception for five yards on three targets in the Blue-White Game. But the ex-Buckeye’s impact goes well beyond the stat line. In just a few short weeks, Fleming has made massive strides in reshaping the habits of the Penn State wide receivers.
“The biggest thing is we have the monarc [seeking jugs machine]; he’s been putting that to use a lot,” said Allar. “And I think that’s helped the receivers a lot because we definitely haven’t used it as much, and him showing the receivers how to use it and how much benefit they can gain from that [has helped]. Because, obviously, I want to throw to them all the time. But I also have to limit myself and the throws that I get in a week just to prevent anything else from happening from that standpoint… It’s really good for them to just walk through it on their own and just stand off routes and get extra catches in.”
Former Buckeye has more to prove in Happy Valley
Despite his pedigree as a former five-star prospect and top wide receiver in the nation coming out of high school, Julian Fleming has been hampered by injury at the college level. But the former Ohio State Buckeye says he’s healthier than ever, and is ready to use his reset with Penn State football to show what he can really do.
“I just felt like I needed one more year to prove to myself who I am and prove to other people who I am,” said Fleming this spring. “I just want to be the best version of myself every single down, every single play,” he stated. “I want to be the best version of myself for this program. And I just want to compete… I’m just going to have to keep my confidence up and stay healthy.”
After a sneak peek of Julain Fleming in the Blue and White, we’ll now wait another five months for a second look. There’s still much ground to be covered from a receiver room that appeared at times to struggle with consistency on Saturday and is likely on the verge of losing its top target from a season ago. In many ways, Fleming’s most vital role for Penn State football could be needed before the Nittany Lions even kick off the 2024 season.
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