REPORT: Penn State football still ‘clear favorite’ to land ex-Ohio State WR Julian Fleming via transfer portal

Penn State football is gearing up to take on Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl tomorrow afternoon. But soon enough, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions will be turning an eye to 2024. One of the most critical needs for Penn State next fall is talent out wide, and target No. 1 from the transfer portal is former Ohio State WR Julian Fleming. After it looked like Fleming would make a quick decision upon entering the portal, the trail went cold to end December. However, new reporting today indicated that the Nittany Lions are still the “clear favorite” to land the former No. 1 recruit in Pennsylvania.

Former Ohio State WR still expected to commit to Penn State, per reports

It’s been nearly a month since former Ohio State WR Julian Fleming entered the transfer portal on December 4. The ex-No. 1 recruit in Pennsylvania seemed like a logical top target for Penn State football, who missed out on the five-star prospect in his initial recruitment. That was backed up when reports surfaced that Fleming quickly – and quietly – visited State College in the days after hitting the portal.

One way or another, it looked like Fleming was poised to make a fast decision on his next program. In mid-December, it was reported that Julian Fleming was a lean to Nebraska, along with former Ohio State QB Kyle McCord. Of course, McCord ultimately committed to Syracuse, and Fleming was predicted to land at Penn State several days later on December 15.

But the former No. 1 recruit in Pennsylvania has gone quiet as the month comes to an end. Throughout the process, Fleming has kept his recruitment close to the vest. However, new reporting from On3 transfer portal expert Pete Nakos suggests he is still very much expected to be a Nittany Lion.

“Penn State remains the clear favorite to land Ohio State transfer WR Julian Fleming,” Nakos wrote on Friday. “He visited Happy Valley and Nebraska earlier this month. A native of Catawissa, Pennsylvania, he grew up roughly 90 minutes from Beaver Stadium. He leaves Columbus with 79 catches for 963 career yards and seven touchdowns. A two-time Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year, he was constantly fighting for playing time in a room that included Marvin Harrison Jr., Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson.”

Commitment from Julian Fleming would be splash in otherwise quiet transfer portal season for the Nittany Lions

Julian Fleming didn’t have the career at Ohio State that many expected coming out of high school. But given his talent as the former No. 1 recruit in Pennsylvania and top WR in the class of 2020, Fleming would still be a big commitment for Penn State football, considering the current make-up of the position room. Fleming is currently the No. 7 WR and No. 38 player in the transfer portal, per 247Sports.

A commitment from the ex-Ohio State WR would also be a significant wave in what has been a quiet transfer portal season for Penn State football. The Nittany Lions only have one portal commitment, from ex-Tulsa K Chase Meyer. OL Alan Herron flipped his commitment from Penn State to Maryland on December 21.

But Penn State hasn’t had much attrition to the portal, either. The Nittany Lions have only lost three players, P Alex Bacchetta, WR Cristian Driver, and CB Jace Tutty, since the portal opened on December 4. With the portal window closing on Tuesday, there will be several days for players to enter following tomorrow’s Peach Bowl game.

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