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Video Recap: Penn State finally lands Julian Fleming

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby:Thomas Frank Carr•01/03/24•

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Julian Fleming Penn State Football on3
Penn State head coach James Franklin has been calling for a player to step up and be a threat on the outside of the offense since spring football in 2023. Did they land the guy who can be that in Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming? (Photo: Brett Davis/USA Today)

Penn State football’s portal efforts came through on Wednesday afternoon. Former top recruiting target Julian Fleming committed to the Nittany Lions out of the transfer portal after four seasons with the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

Publisher Sean Fitz breaks down what Fleming’s commitment means for the program and what he’s bringing to Penn State. Check out the video here or on the Blue White Illustrated YouTube Channel. 

Penn State looking for a top target

The news of Fleming’s commitment comes hours after former transfer Dante Cephas entered the portal to find a new home after just one season with Penn State. Cephas didn’t play in the Peach Bowl, so the move was expected. However, only eight of Drew Allar’s 40 targets in the game, meaning the team didn’t get much help from those players. Head coach James Franklin says that there are multiple reasons for that stat. 

“It’s a combination of things. I think we’re really good at tight end. That’s part of it. Then we’ve got to be able to make sure that we translate what we do in practice consistently to the games,” he said.  

“One of the things that I think can be challenging is you may not get an opportunity early in the game, but whenever those opportunities come, you’ve got to maximize them. You’ve got to maximize them, and we have not done that consistently enough this year.”

Can Fleming be a threat out wide?

While the team needs help at receiver, no matter where he lines up, Franklin spelled it out plainly at the end of his press conference this past weekend. When speaking about what ailed his offense this fall, he pointed to the perimeter of the field to help Allar.

“I think there’s some things that he can do and be more consistent as well, but I think the biggest thing, which I think was a question earlier, is we’ve got to be able to scare people and be a threat consistently on the perimeter. That’s something I think we’ve shown flashes of at times, but we need to be able to do that on a consistent basis.”

Penn State has landed three players from the transfer portal this offseason, with only two staying committed to the program. Fleming joins kicker Chase Meyer as the team’s commits. Offensive tackle prospect Alan Herron verbally committed to the program before flipping to Maryland shortly after. 

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