Ohio State football: Receiver beginning to flash big-time talent
By Del Barris
One Ohio State football player is finally starting to flash the brilliant talent that made him a top recruit.
When Ohio State receivers coach Brian Hartline led the charge to pluck Julian Fleming out of Pennsylvania, it was considered a huge recruiting win for the Buckeyes. He was the number one receiver in the country and Ohio State’s top recruit of their 2020 class. To make Fleming’s choice to sign with the Buckeyes even sweeter, he lives not all that far from Penn State. Big things were expected right away from him.
Unfortunately, a lack of spring practice, a COVID-shortened season, and some nagging injuries slowed Fleming in 2020. He did manage seven catches for 74 yards. Four of those came in the Big Ten championship game against Northwestern when Chris Olave was out of the lineup.
He also forced one very memorable fumble against Indiana after the Hoosiers had intercepted an ill-advised pass from Justin Fields. Although he was able to show flashes of why he was considered the number three overall player in the country for his recruiting class, Fleming never really reached the heights expected of him.
As the Buckeyes grind through fall camp towards that opening game on September 2nd, here is some good news: Julian Fleming is looking impressive. This is great news because the Buckeyes need a receiver like Fleming.
Although he is not listed as OSU’s biggest receiver, he looks it. When I compare Fleming to others in this unit, he looks bigger and thicker to me. Big, strong receivers can be nightmares for defensive backs.
Fleming’s performance in camp so far is also encouraging because the Buckeyes have just seven healthy scholarship receivers. There isn’t a lot of margin for injuries or sub-par performances. Yes, Olave and Garrett Wilson are the best receiver duo in college football, but OSU needs more than just those two playing at a high level. It’s all hands on deck for this unit in 2021.
Next. Vom Miller compliments the Ohio State Football program. dark
There is a reason why recruiting analysts thought so highly of him. Hopefully, Julian Fleming is ready to show us all why those lofty rankings were justified.