Former Ohio State receiver’s ‘rocky’ road home may let him finish on own terms
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Per the consensus of the scouting industry, Julian Fleming came to Ohio State football to help redefine the program’s definition of a receiver.
While that unveiling did take place during his tenure — Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all setting the stage for Marvin Harrison Jr.’’s ascent — Fleming never truly broke free from his supporting role. He entered his name in the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 4 and somewhat quietly ended a Buckeye career which began with great expectations and fanfare.
The next step in Fleming’s career may serve as a testament both to the NCAA’s decision to allow an extra year of eligibility for the 2020 pandemic-affected season and the transfer portal itself. He pushed his body past its limits at times to become a reliable third receiver. He graduated last month with a degree in human development and family science. After four years, he earned the right to take a look around and decide how he wants to close his career.
His answer, according to an interview with Lions 247: He wanted to go home. The Pennsylvania only visited Penn State and Nebraska before choosing the Nittany Lions. He may finally experience the other side of a white out when Ohio State visits Beaver Stadium on Nov. 2.
“I wanted to be close to home, I wanted to be close to my people, and I want to win a Big Ten championship with another team,” Fleming said in the interview.
That connection did not continue to the same degree. Fleming played all 12 regular-season games — by far the healthiest stretch of his career — but turned 26 catches into only 270 yards and no touchdowns.
