Julian Fleming sightings in the OSU/ND game

[lazydave841]

Jaxon Smith-Njigba was a starter and most productive receiver last year and started along side Olave and Wilson. He was injured in the 1st quarter last night. Julian Fleming was going to start and was was unable to go with an injury. The kid that came in - Egbuka - is a star in the making. He was also the top national WR in his class

JSN going down was probably a big chink in the game plan. ND had essentially planned to double him and play 2 high S all night (minus the TD to the transfer kid), so he was going to have tough sledding regardless.

I stand by what I said about Fleming. Him being a scratch before kick off means nothing. He's got as much experience as Malick Meiga. He may show up next week and produce, but Harrison and Egbuka have already done more in less time.

Egbuka playing good wasn't a shock. He had a good bowl game. The big difference I see in this years group and last years is that Olave and Wilson were both high end speed guys and these guys haven't quite matched that yet. Kudos to ND, they played them tough and likely cost Stroud the Heisman (not that I agree with that, but it's the type of game he'll be judged by unless ND plays UGA like defense the rest of the way).

 

[DUNNELLONFLBUCK]

no one outside of PA and Ohio has ever heard of him.

Yet.

 

[Texas Lion]

Again to those that complain…..never in my time has anyone forced me to click on a thread. Good gosh cupcakes. Stop being so sensitive if you don’t like a thread title. Move the hell on.

 

[Online Persona]

Yet.

Yes that is the point. #1 wr and like #7 overall recruit at any position and after 3 years no one has seen or heard of him. That tells me the kid made a very poor decision. Probably any other school and he would already be a household name and on mock drafts for 1st round this year. He cost himself millions by choosing Ohio St.

 

[marshall23]

Yes that is the point. #1 wr and like #7 overall recruit at any position and after 3 years no one has seen or heard of him. That tells me the kid made a very poor decision. Probably any other school and he would already be a household name and on mock drafts for 1st round this year. He cost himself millions by choosing Ohio St.

Aren't you dismissing his injury history? Is he only experiencing shoulder issues because he chose Ohio State?

 

[marshall23]

This is the point. He spurned PSU it seemed mostly because Shorter wasn't an instant success. Then he went to Ohio St and has been in the witness protection program.

I think shorter would have worked out OK if he was patient. He wasn't and went to Florida where they basically made him be patient. He's an adequate starter there but certainly had been over-rated in HS because he is average in college.

Fleming on the other hand is good enough to have been a star receiver at 95% of power 5 programs over the last few years but has been buried at Ohio St. Literally had he chosen any other school, he'd be a likely 1st or 2nd round pick this year. Instead, if he ever does get on the field at Ohio St, he will be their 3rd option at best.

PSU fans are only interested because he specifically chose Ohio St because they suckered him into thinking he would find success there sooner and have since found other receivers they like better. Ohio St wins here because had he chosen PSU, Fleming would be the #1 WR and would be tearing up their secondary. Instead, no one outside of PA and Ohio has ever heard of him.

Actually his choice had a lot to do with Brian Hartline.

 

[Online Persona]

Aren't you dismissing his injury history? Is he only experiencing shoulder issues because he chose Ohio State?

Is the claim that he's been injured for 3 years? He's had some injuries but I've never heard that he was out for the year any year. Sounds a lot like an excuse to me.

 

[marshall23]

Is the claim that he's been injured for 3 years? He's had some injuries but I've never heard that he was out for the year any year. Sounds a lot like an excuse to me.

He wore a shoulder harness his freshman year (injury from hs) and had surgery missing a spring. He was slated to start last night.....game time decision.....lower body injury. How does this sound like an excuse?
He's happy at OSU....to whom does he owe an explanation or excuse?

 

[Online Persona]

He wore a shoulder harness his freshman year (injury from hs) and had surgery missing a spring. He was slated to start last night.....game time decision.....lower body injury. How does this sound like an excuse?
He's happy at OSU....to whom does he owe an explanation or excuse?

No one is asking for an excuse. 3 years and the #1 wr and a top 10 overall talent is in the witness protection program. He chose Ohio St and was erased from existence. He's the one that has to deal with that. I also don’t buy that he's been injured for 3 years. To my knowledge he hasn't been out for the season even once. But he's been non-existent. Seems to me that he made a really poor decision and it's costing him millions.

 

[marshall23]

No one is asking for an excuse. 3 years and the #1 wr and a top 10 overall talent is in the witness protection program. He chose Ohio St and was erased from existence. He's the one that has to deal with that. I also don’t buy that he's been injured for 3 years. To my knowledge he hasn't been out for the season even once. But he's been non-existent. Seems to me that he made a really poor decision and it's costing him millions.

He seems okay with his decision and the coaches seem happy with him. If he felt he made a mistake.....he simply would have entered the portal.

Julian Fleming Scores Two Touchdowns in Scrimmage After Popping Shoulder Back into Place: “It Definitely Boosted My Confidence A Lot”

Julian Fleming and his Ohio State teammates confirmed Ryan Day's recent story that the five-star recruit had a standout scrimmage after popping his shoulder back into place.

www.elevenwarriors.com

 

[Online Persona]

He seems okay with his decision and the coaches seem happy with him. If he felt he made a mistake.....he simply would have entered the portal.

Julian Fleming Scores Two Touchdowns in Scrimmage After Popping Shoulder Back into Place: “It Definitely Boosted My Confidence A Lot”

Julian Fleming and his Ohio State teammates confirmed Ryan Day's recent story that the five-star recruit had a standout scrimmage after popping his shoulder back into place.

www.elevenwarriors.com

So the injury doesn't prevent him from scrimmages but it's kept him from real games for 3 years? Sounds to me like he is at best Ohio St's 3rd to maybe 5th option at WR. He'd be #1 at 95% of power 5 schools and at worst projected in the 2nd round in this year's draft. He made a poor decision and it's costing him millions.

 

[marshall23]

So the injury doesn't prevent him from scrimmages but it's kept him from real games for 3 years? Sounds to me like he is at best Ohio St's 3rd to maybe 5th option at WR. He'd be #1 at 95% of power 5 schools and at worst projected in the 2nd round in this year's draft. He made a poor decision and it's costing him millions.

It's only a poor decision in your eyes....from your keyboard.
The only person whose opinion matters is Julian Fleming. The fact that he has not yet entered the portal is empirical evidence that he doesn't think like you. Imagine someone persevering against superb competition and adversity complicated by injury?What a fool!

 

[Online Persona]

It's only a poor decision in your eyes....from your keyboard.
The only person whose opinion matters is Julian Fleming. The fact that he has not yet entered the portal is empirical evidence that he doesn't think like you. Imagine someone persevering against superb competition and adversity complicated by injury?What a fool!

His poor decision was choosing Ohio St in the first place. And what makes it a poor decision unequivocally is that he is losing millions because of it. Literally any other school would have him at minimum projected 2nd round this year.

And it's not like he is the first WR to learn the hard way that elite talent can just waste away on the Buckeyes bench. Williams transferred to Bama in the knick of time to get one chance to show he was a 1st team all American and 1st round draft pick.

And it's not just wr, Joe Burrow was the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft and Heisman winner but was just wasting away on the Ohio St bench.

Look at recruiting rankings, Ohio St, Bama, and Georgia are in a virtual tie over the last 5 years on a totally different level than every other team. It's not even close to any other school, not even Clemson. But Bama and Georgia win titles while Ohio St just wastes their talent. 1st round draft picks often have to transfer from Ohio St just to play and get noticed.

 

[brupsu]

Why are people obsessed with him. He's not here. Give it a rest. Because he chose OSU over PSU people can't get over it.

As someone here used to say “He gone “

 

[marshall23]

His poor decision was choosing Ohio St in the first place. And what makes it a poor decision unequivocally is that he is losing millions because of it. Literally any other school would have him at minimum projected 2nd round this year.

And it's not like he is the first WR to learn the hard way that elite talent can just waste away on the Buckeyes bench. Williams transferred to Bama in the knick of time to get one chance to show he was a 1st team all American and 1st round draft pick.

And it's not just wr, Joe Burrow was the #1 overall pick in the NFL draft and Heisman winner but was just wasting away on the Ohio St bench.

Look at recruiting rankings, Ohio St, Bama, and Georgia are in a virtual tie over the last 5 years on a totally different level than every other team. It's not even close to any other school, not even Clemson. But Bama and Georgia win titles while Ohio St just wastes their talent. 1st round draft picks often have to transfer from Ohio St just to play and get noticed.

Again....you are entitled to your opinion. Only Julian's opinion means anything.
You are a typical fanboy assuming that high school ratings are infallible.

JF played at very small division school that is very run orientated.
He was 19 when he finished his senior season.
He had a significant injury when he arrived at OSU.
As I've stated ad nauseum , I'm a Southern Alum. Several of my teammates are still around the program. They live in Catawissa...to date Julian has not questioned his decision.

The glaring hole in your argument is the assumption the JF would have been a top draft pick had he sought less competition. LOL, I guess NFL scouts/coaches wouldn't calculate that.

If after surgery, his shoulder is popping out in drills....pray tell what NFL team is gifting him millions?

 

[Online Persona]

The glaring hole in your argument is the assumption the JF would have been a top draft pick had he sought less competition. LOL, I guess NFL scouts/coaches wouldn't calculate that.

No one said less competition. Williams and Burrow left for the SEC and national championships, is that less competition? No, leaving to not be one of the many elite talents wasting away on the Ohio St bench is more accurate.

When that list includes a Heisman winner, #1 overall draft pick, and multiple 1st round NFL players then it isn't just some poster's guess. It is 100% verifiably true that the best of the best are simply wasting their opportunities at Ohio St. It is a proven fact with numerous examples reinforcing it. There is now a well established pattern of elite recruits going to Ohio St and never getting their opportunity.

 

[rrdd2021]

No one said less competition. Williams and Burrow left for the SEC and national championships, is that less competition? No, leaving to not be one of the many elite talents wasting away on the Ohio St bench is more accurate.

When that list includes a Heisman winner, #1 overall draft pick, and multiple 1st round NFL players then it isn't just some poster's guess. It is 100% verifiably true that the best of the best are simply wasting their opportunities at Ohio St. It is a proven fact with numerous examples reinforcing it. There is now a well established pattern of elite recruits going to Ohio St and never getting their opportunity.

Williams left because he was the 4th receiver behind Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Igniba and all of those kids were-will be 1st round picks - along with Williams. That should tell you the elite talent in front of Fleming who is now scheduled to start this year but as in the past, injuries have limited him. He recently had shoulder surgery. You keep slamming Fleming

As for Burrow, he left OSU when he was in a neck-and -neck battle with Haskins and broke his hand which ultimately pushed him behind Haskins for the starting QB position - ultimately he transferred out. And his feelings toward OSU. Well, he was at the OSU - ND game cheering his butt of this weekend for OSU and was seen spending a ton of time with 2023 OSU QB commit Brock Glenn. Burrow loves OSU. And last I checked, Haskins turned out to be a pretty CF QB himself - setting a ton of B1G records in his lone year at OSU.

Joe Burrow, Ohio State and a broken hand that changed football history

Former Ohio State quarterback Joe Burrow is set to make history at the Heisman Trophy ceremony. What if he never broke his hand?

www.on3.com

As for kids wasting away at OSU, sure there are a few, but you can say that at any major football school including PSU. You conveniently bring up Burrow and Williams but didn't bring up the Bosas, Chase Young, Ezekial Elliot, Justin Fields, and on and on etc......OSU trails only Alabama with NFL players - both had over 50 and I believe Bama had 59 or 60 (unbelievable) on 2021 NFL rosters (53 man roster?). I've seen Will Levis projected as a 1st round pick on every mock NFL draft out so far. In fact, one had him the #1 overall pick. Was Coach Franklin a blockhead for not using him ? Absolutely not as I've seen several reports that his situation and Kentucky's offense just fits him better. It happens at every school.

Will Levis No. 1 Overall? One NFL Draft Analyst Predicts It

Many early NFL Mock Drafts have been high on Will Levis. The latest from CBS is taking the Kentucky quarterback to new heights.

www.on3.com

 

[marshall23]

No one said less competition. Williams and Burrow left for the SEC and national championships, is that less competition? No, leaving to not be one of the many elite talents wasting away on the Ohio St bench is more accurate.

When that list includes a Heisman winner, #1 overall draft pick, and multiple 1st round NFL players then it isn't just some poster's guess. It is 100% verifiably true that the best of the best are simply wasting their opportunities at Ohio St. It is a proven fact with numerous examples reinforcing it. There is now a well established pattern of elite recruits going to Ohio St and never getting their opportunity.

NFL players by college on 2021 rosters

The 2021 NFL season is right around the corner, here's the amount players in the pros that each conference and team has.

www.ncaa.com

Well, they are putting more players on NFL rosters with the exception of Alabama.
No one needs to "waste away" on the Ohio State bench....there is a portal and you just used it,(Burrow) to destroy your premise.

 

[rrdd2021]

I merely asked this rrdd because he seems to comment on Ohio St in every thread and knows their depth chart and history inside and out.

Is the claim that he's been injured for 3 years? He's had some injuries but I've never heard that he was out for the year any year. Sounds a lot like an excuse to me.

I have my undergrad from Northwestern (Chicago native) and have been closely following B1G football and basketball since the mid 1970s. FYI - also a fanatical Bears fan and love Justin Fields potential. Your assertions that anyone that states anything positive about OSU must be an OSU fans comes off as reeking with jealousy. I'm on several B1G Rivals boards (Iowa, Nebraska, NU, Rutgers......and even Pitt's Lair) and try to comment - on a subject - with a fair and open mind. TRY IT SOMETIME

 

[brupsu]

Agree 100%. He can go wherever he wants, but his comments about how Franklin “ruined” Justin “Cheeseburger” Shorter were unnecessary.

Hey I love five guys two patty cheeseburgers yum but yes he could have left that alone.Raw unions

 

[Lattner]

Try tasting the patty without the junk on it.

Toppings are free for a reason,

Identical to Checkers.

Ground cardboard.

 

[Online Persona]

I have my undergrad from Northwestern (Chicago native) and have been closely following B1G football and basketball since the mid 1970s. FYI - also a fanatical Bears fan and love Justin Fields potential. Your assertions that anyone that states anything positive about OSU must be an OSU fans comes off as reeking with jealousy. I'm on several B1G Rivals boards (Iowa, Nebraska, NU, Rutgers......and even Pitt's Lair) and try to comment - on a subject - with a fair and open mind. TRY IT SOMETIME

Nice strawman. That was not my assertion. I did ask you if YOU weren't an Ohio St fan because you comment, always favorably, and with a lot of detailed history any time the Buckeyes are mentioned in any thread. You know the depth charts from years ago, the injury and playing history of every Buckeye player, which recruits and former players are on the sidelines. I've not once seen you post that level of detail or respond about other programs mentioned but you are right there always anytime anything Ohio St is brought up defending them. It only seems logical to ask if you are a buckeye fan.

 

[Online Persona]

NFL players by college on 2021 rosters

The 2021 NFL season is right around the corner, here's the amount players in the pros that each conference and team has.

www.ncaa.com

Well, they are putting more players on NFL rosters with the exception of Alabama.
No one needs to "waste away" on the Ohio State bench....there is a portal and you just used it,(Burrow) to destroy your premise.

Yes but only because they get more elite recruits by far than anyone. Bama, Georgia, and Ohio St get by far the most 5 and high 4 stars and it's not even close. Ohio St has more 5 stars than the rest of the big 10 combined.

None of that changes the fact that Ohio St has a well established record of 1st round draft picks wasting away on their bench and ONLY getting drafted because they transferred.

 

[marshall23]

Yes but only because they get more elite recruits by far than anyone. Bama, Georgia, and Ohio St get by far the most 5 and high 4 stars and it's not even close. Ohio St has more 5 stars than the rest of the big 10 combined.

None of that changes the fact that Ohio St has a well established record of 1st round draft picks wasting away on their bench and ONLY getting drafted because they transferred.

wasting away on their bench.....yet they transfer and get drafted? So I guess we have a different understanding of "wasting away." In any event...it sure hasn't slowed them down. I wish PSU had that "problem."

 

[lazydave841]

Did we waste Zech McPherson while he was here or did he just happen to take the training he got here, move on, and make the most of it with a more favorable depth chart?

Williams is the same thing. He's very likely a better WR for battling in the Buckeye room. Moving into the Bama offense (who needed a top WR) worked out.

 

[marshall23]

Did we waste Zech McPherson while he was here or did he just happen to take the training he got here, move on, and make the most of it with a more favorable depth chart?

Williams is the same thing. He's very likely a better WR for battling in the Buckeye room. Moving into the Bama offense (who needed a top WR) worked out.

Iron sharpens Iron.

 

[Texas Lion]

I for one kind of respect the kid for sticking it out. Sour grapes cause we didn’t land him but with the portal today it would have been easy for him to tuck his tail and bolt.

 

[rrdd2021]

Serious question. I follow B1G recruiting - somewhat - not as close as others but do have a question. Some are slamming Fleming for not choosing PSU, but did PSU ever try to recruit Marvin Harrison's kid who is now a starter for OSU. I've read he's originally from Philadelphia. Just my guess, but he probably wasn't as highly recruited as Fleming

 

[lazydave841]

Serious question. I follow B1G recruiting - somewhat - not as close as others but do have a question. Some are slamming Fleming for not choosing PSU, but did PSU ever try to recruit Marvin Harrison's kid who is now a starter for OSU. I've read he's originally from Philadelphia. Just my guess, but he probably wasn't as highly recruited as Fleming

I'm sure we threw out feelers, but it was known fairly early that both he and the QB McCord weren't coming here.

Fleming grew up an hour away. He'd been on campus multiple times and was a heavy lean. Truthfully, I think he was interested in getting away and playing for Hartline.

 

[marshall23]

I'm sure we threw out feelers, but it was known fairly early that both he and the QB McCord weren't coming here.

Fleming grew up an hour away. He'd been on campus multiple times and was a heavy lean. Truthfully, I think he was interested in getting away and playing for Hartline.

breaking up with his PSU girlfriend on the track team and Hartline I think made the difference

 

[rrdd2021]

I'm sure we threw out feelers, but it was known fairly early that both he and the QB McCord weren't coming here.

Fleming grew up an hour away. He'd been on campus multiple times and was a heavy lean. Truthfully, I think he was interested in getting away and playing for Hartline.

Sometimes a staff can try to do everything possible to convince a kid to come to their school and - as you mentioned - they just want to get away.

Was on a Notre Dame site a few days ago and they had an article on how they pulled their starting WR - Lorenzo Styles - out of Columbus and OSU - who offered him. The kid just wanted to get away from Columbus. But, in the same family, his younger brother (can't remember his name) decided to accept a scholarship to OSU and is a freshman this year. Different strokes for different folks

 

[Eph97]

Julian started against Toledo and had 2 TD receptions. Seems to have put the injury behind him.

 

[creamery freak]

Julian started against Toledo and had 2 TD receptions. Seems to have put the injury behind him.

I saw his 1st td catch and they said it was his 1st catch this year. Hopefully he stays healthy and has a breakout year except against us.

 

[rrdd2021]

I do read OSU sites O-Zone and especially Eleven Warriors and sounds like - according to the OSU coaches and especially Brian Hartline - that Julian Fleming and Marvin Harrison - are both considered "freaks" when it comes to their overall physical and WR skills. The other two OSU standout receivers - Jaxon-Smith Whatever and that Egbuka kid (having a huge season) are more of the polished type WRs when it comes to route running and speed. Fleming's 1st TD catch on Saturday was mind-boggling and a thing of beauty.

Chances are that all 4 will eventually play in the NFL (along with r-freshman Jayden Ballard) but Fleming has the big asterisk next to his name and it's all about - as many have pointed out on this site - STAYING HEALTHY. This last game against Toledo was the 1st time he's been 100% a go this year and maybe in his OSU career. Sounds like the sky is the limit if - and a BIG IF - his health finally cooperates. He was held out of OSU's 1st 2 games because of an undisclosed injury which seems to have healed

 

[Online Persona]

Julian started against Toledo and had 2 TD receptions. Seems to have put the injury behind him.

Yes, he did account for 23 of the nearly 500 receiving yards. They had 3 other WRs go for over 100 and smith-njigba was being eased back in it seems. So is Fleming the 5th WR option now?

 

[rrdd2021]

Yes, he did account for 23 of the nearly 500 receiving yards. They had 3 other WRs go for over 100 and smith-njigba was being eased back in it seems. So is Fleming the 5th WR option now?

Fleming is their scheduled 3rd starter but look for Harrison, Fleming and Egbuka to all start - at times - while Smith-Njigba fully heals but there are some times when they'll play 4 WRs (no TE). The OSU coaches did not play Smith-Njiba or Fleming in the 2nd half - against Toledo - as a precautionary step because of their previous nagging injuries. They played almost everybody including several receivers. Where are you getting that Fleming is their 5th WR option ? You need to read what their WR coach - Brian Hartline - has to say about Fleming. If he can finally stay healthy, he has "star WR" written all over him.

 

[Online Persona]

Fleming is their scheduled 3rd starter but look for Harrison, Fleming and Egbuka to all start - at times - while Smith-Njigba fully heals but there are some times when they'll play 4 WRs (no TE). The OSU coaches did not play Smith-Njiba or Fleming in the 2nd half - against Toledo - as a precautionary step because of their previous nagging injuries. They played almost everybody including several receivers. Where are you getting that Fleming is their 5th WR option ? You need to read what their WR coach - Brian Hartline - has to say about Fleming. If he can finally stay healthy, he has "star WR" written all over him.

Ohio St had 3 WRs that all had minimum of 4X as many yards as Fleming this week. The other WR clearly ahead of him is Smith-Njiba. That makes Fleming the #5 option unless you want to count the TE Stover who had almost 4X as many yards as Fleming which bumps Fleming down to the 6th option.

 

[rrdd2021]

Ohio St had 3 WRs that all had minimum of 4X as many yards as Fleming this week. The other WR clearly ahead of him is Smith-Njiba. That makes Fleming the #5 option unless you want to count the TE Stover who had almost 4X as many yards as Fleming which bumps Fleming down to the 6th option.

Huh? They play a minimum of 5 WRs and Brian Hartline recently said that Fleming and Egbuka would both be their co-3rd starter this week. Why are you labeling Fleming #5 over riding what Hartline is saying? Of course there were receivers with more yardage than Fleming - and Smith-Njigba - but neither played the 2nd half as neither was needed. Fleming also caught 2 TDs so I'm not sure what your point is unless you just have an axe to grind with Fleming. If you listen to OSU coaches (not you), he's a big-time talent when healthy (his main problem)

 

[lazydave841]

Why are you labeling Fleming #5 over riding what Hartline is saying?

I think he was going by the stats. It's not unreasonable. Hartline can talk all he wants, he's got no less than 7 high end WRs. 3 catches, 23 yards, 2 TDs screams "red zone target", which is awesome. When Egbuka and Harrison and now Ballard all go over 100, that has to mean something.

Of course, the Fleming talk here goes overboard at times. Those who think the kid made a mistake vs those who defend him is getting old. There's only one week this year I care what he does.

 

[rrdd2021]

I think he was going by the stats. It's not unreasonable. Hartline can talk all he wants, he's got no less than 7 high end WRs. 3 catches, 23 yards, 2 TDs screams "red zone target", which is awesome. When Egbuka and Harrison and now Ballard all go over 100, that has to mean something.

Of course, the Fleming talk here goes overboard at times. Those who think the kid made a mistake vs those who defend him is getting old. There's only one week this year I care what he does.

It sounds like that's the problem. But if some want to go by one game stats - that was a blowout when many subs played early - you could say that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the 4th or 5th receiver since he had only 2 catches for 33 yards and 0 TDs. Many consider him the top WR in CF. He - and Fleming - were scheduled only to play a minimum amount of time. But according to some...........