Ohio State WR joins Penn State out of NCAA Transfer Portal

admin | January 3, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

The experienced Ohio State wide receiver and former Pennsylvania five-star recruit is returning home to play for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State made its latest NCAA Transfer Portal splash just moments ago, when Ohio State wide receiver Julian Fleming announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions. Fleming, a former five-star recruit out of Catawissa (Pa.) Southern Columbia, returns to Pennsylvania with one year remaining on his eligibility.

Fleming caught 26 passes for 270 yards in 2023 and finished his career at Ohio State with 79 receptions for 963 yards and seven touchdowns in 48 games. Fleming had his greatest season at Ohio State in 2022, with 34 receptions, 533 receiving yards, and six touchdowns – all career highs.

Fleming began his last season at Ohio State with 15 receptions for 153 yards in the first five games, but he became less of a force in the Buckeyes’ passing attack as the season progressed. He caught one pass for nine yards against Penn State in October and two passes for 27 yards, including a high reception of 23 yards, when Ohio State visited Beaver Stadium in 2022.

Fleming was the No. 4 talent in the 2020 class, the top-ranked receiver in the country, and the top-ranked prospect in Pennsylvania coming out of Southern Columbia. He finished his school career with 4,442 receiving yards and 62 receiving touchdowns, all of which are state records in Pennsylvania. Fleming chose Ohio State over Penn State, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Oregon, and others.

Since the transfer window opened on December 4, adding at wide receiver has been a priority for Penn State wide receivers coach Marques Hagans.KeAndre Lambert-Smith led the Nittany Lions in receiving in 2023 with 53 catches for 673 yards and four touchdowns, followed by Dante Cephas (22 catches, 246 yards, two scores) and Harrison Wallace (15 catches for 161 yards). Wallace was injured for the majority of the season.

At wide receiver, Penn State will also return Liam Clifford (10 receptions for 105 yards), Omari Evans (four receptions, 94 yards, one touchdown), Malik McClain (six receptions, 71 yards, one touchdown), and Kaunders (six receptions, 56 yards, one score) next season. Fleming can now be thrown into the mix.

“We’re trying to create the most competitive roster that we possibly can,” Penn State head coach James Franklin stated before the transfer window opened. “Our players are aware of this. We reminded them that when we recruited them, whether they were high school players or transfer portal guys, our goal was to create as much competition in the locker room as possible and then go from there. But what we actually want are the greatest athletes available, as well as those who are the best fits for our locker room, university, and community.”