Julian Fleming, WR, Penn State
Size:
Height: 6015 (v) | Weight: 210 lbs (v)
Accomplishments:
No. 1 overall high school recruit (2018)
“While longevity remains a major concern, Julian Fleming flashes strong hands, creativity after the catch, and an understanding of leverage that should allow him to compete for snaps in a rotational role.”
Strengths:
Strong hands (six drops on 125 career targets)
Ball skills
Long strider
Toughness
Size
Concerns:
Limited explosiveness
Separation
Route tree
Longevity
Film Analysis:
While Julian Fleming’s production has remained limited, his combination of size, strength, and leaping ability showcase his ceiling as a playmaker. He’s aligned primarily on the outside but has snaps in the slot. Not extremely explosive off the line of scrimmage, but long strides eat up any ground that corners attempt to use at their disposal. His release package has to evolve, however.
When the ball is in the air, Fleming’s skill set shines. Uses size extremely well to wall off defenders at a variety of depths and has no issue playing above the rim to snatch passes out of the air. Basketball background shows up in contested catch situations. He rarely allows passes to work into his body and consistently showcases his ability as a natural hands-catcher.
His overall route tree remained limited at Ohio State. He lived in the intermediate areas of the offense on quick timing and rhythm throws, dig routes, china routes, and crossers. Average burst in space but is a creative runner after the catch. Will not run away from secondary defenders.
Concerns remain about Fleming’s longevity (multiple injuries, including procedures on both shoulders following consistent dislocations). Not an elite separator, and dominating the contested catch area will be a tough way to consistently succeed.
The former No. 1 overall high school recruit in the class of 2018 has not been able to live up to expectations for a myriad of reasons, but he flashes traits that should allow him to challenge for targets at the NFL level.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Role Specific
Written by: Ryan Fowler
Exposures: Michigan (2023), Indiana (2023), Georgia (2022), Iowa (2022)
