Julian Fleming Enters Portal
December 4th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
I feel like Fleming is always praised for his selflessness and blocking. Seems like he would be a good fit here.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^
Sad to see Julian Fleming go, and wish him the best. He has been one of the grittiest players on the team, and a great leader by example.
Fleming came in as a highly-rated recruit, but suffered repeated shoulder injuries since the end of his high school career. He’s had so many surgeries on his shoulders now that he often jokes they are held together by duct tape.
Last season, Fleming said he had to just change his mentality about waiting to be fully healthy before stepping onto the field and accept that his shoulders will never be 100%. So now he just plays thru the pain, and when he dislocates his shoulders, he just goes to the sideline, pops them back in and goes back out.
When he’s mostly healthy though, he has WR1 potential and I hope he can show-out for his next program.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:31 PM ^
Man, that sucks. I hope he can finally get healthy and show out for his next program.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:05 PM ^
I would assume that if Fleming stayed he would be guaranteed the same/similar role that he held the last two seasons as WR3. I imagine a combination of Brandon Innis and Carnell Tate are going to replace MHJr./Egbuka’s roles.
Fleming can likely thrive as a WR1 elsewhere like Jameson Williams did when he went to Alabama (or Sam Wiglusz to a certain degree at Ohio University).
December 4th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
That's fucking metal as hell, that is dreadfully painful. All the best to him, he had some INCREDIBLE catches in The Game
December 4th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^
As much as I wish this was a sign of OSU imploding, Fleming hitting the portal is entirely logical.
He will be a 5th year senior and needs to show out in order to get a high draft rating. He is not going to get that at OSU as he is not an MHJ level freak - and they have too many talented receivers to show out.
A move to PSU makes sense as he will get featured with a QB that has the arm to get him some numbers.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:36 PM ^
IMO, Unless Allar makes a huge leap next year, which is in the realm of probability but not very likely, going to PSU still isn't going to get him the ball any more than it would've with an HC like Day who is miles above Franklin and most of CFB with his passing offense.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:39 PM ^
A move to PSU makes sense as he will get featured with a QB that has the arm to get him some numbers.
Drew Allar has entered the chat.
Drew Allar has exited the chat.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:31 PM ^
I wonder if some of these guys putting their names in the portal are just fishing for the best NIL deal. If they don’t get better offers then what they currently have they will stay put.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
I wonder how the rest of the team responds to a guy who puts himself in the portal, doesn't get any better offers, and then decides to stay.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:34 PM ^
It’s not their choice whether to “stay put”. It’s the team’s choice. Good luck with that!
December 4th, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
You're probably right for some but it probably goes in reverse for other players. I can see some players that went for a bag the first time around ending up at places that aren't really good fits for them. They realize that and now want to go somewhere that will develop them and utilize their skillset more.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
It looks like OSU is imploding.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^
Huh? The ship isn't even close to sinking. Day is 56-7 (!!!) as a head coach. Just last year they were a missed FG away from making the championship game.
Folks are starting to jump into the icy water not because the hull's been breached, but because the lobster was a little bit overcooked.
Talk about sawft. . . imagine them going through what we endured in the RichRod/Hoke years!
December 4th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^
The Titanic was unsinkable… until it wasn’t.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:14 PM ^
even if it isn't sinking.... if its losing crew members that it would rather keep.... we can rejoice and enjoy their discomfort, regardless of how inconsequential it may be in the bigger context.
After cryin' ryan's methed up, tweeker penguin dance before The Game..... I wonder how many decided to enter that portal right then and there?
December 4th, 2023 at 7:53 PM ^
I think it's more than that, and I have to use Michigan as a comparison.
JH has changed the culture at Michigan for the better in the last 3-4 yrs. Day has done the same, but in the wrong direction. I think players sense that the horizon is uncertain.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:27 PM ^
"Well, let's not start sucking each other's dicks just yet." - The Wolf
December 4th, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
In case anyone has forgotten, by rating he was as "can't miss" as you can get coming out of HS:
https://247sports.com/Player/julian-fleming-46040058/high-school-191412/
December 4th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
Saw this kid play when he was in high school. No doubt why he was labeled as a cant miss player, but just didnt work out for him.
He will most likely transfer to PSU as that is only about 1.5 hours from where he is from. Would be a good pickup for them.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:24 PM ^
Stars matter!
-Salvatore Quattro
December 4th, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^
They do.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
Such a tired take. I wonder why Bama & OSU have been near the top of CFB for the last 15 years and Georgia and LSU always "don't suck".
Guess what, MOAR 3* get drafted than 5* Cuz there are way more 3* out there. But go do the ratios of 5 stars drafted / 5 stars exist, and do the same for 4 and 3.
There are always misses and from all accounts his was largely due to health.
There are reasons guys like Will Johnson can play and excel in their first year. Bama has a 5* safety phenom freshman who if eligible would be a first rounder... now.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:35 PM ^
OSU had 3 of the top 5 WRs in that entire class and JSN is the only one who did much of anything in college. It's sort of crazy. roman Wilson down at #38 has been a better WR in college than either Scott and Fleming, and I'd argue he's about as impactful as JSN simply because he could stay healthy.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^
It's every class man. Every damn class.
They have Jeremiah Smith this year - #1 player overall. Also happens to be a WR. #26 overall they have too. He is a WR.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
Who is going to throw the ball to those talented receivers? I do think that’s a factor in the equation.
December 4th, 2023 at 1:07 PM ^
And one of the overlooked things is that Maserati Marv was the #160 player in 2021, and the #21 WR (both per 247 composite). Egbuka and Jayden Ballard also were in OSU's class that year, ranked #1 and #4 WR, #9 and #55 in the composite.
Egbuka is very good, and Ballard has nine career catches in three years.
Stars matter, but they aren't the only thing that matters.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:11 PM ^
OSU is looking to overhaul their program in the portal this year. They are going for broke next season. Expect big money being thrown around
December 4th, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
Weren't they raising 13-15 million?
December 4th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
Wasn't that 2-3 years ago, when NIL first became a thing? That number seems low now...
December 4th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
I got the sense that Ryan Day meant they need 13 to 15 million per year when he made that comment.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:52 PM ^
I thought it was the additional money he needed to keep the ‘22 team together for the ‘22 season.
No mention of ‘23 and beyond…
December 4th, 2023 at 12:59 PM ^
27-42 million ... or was it 23-45? No, it was 24-30 million.
They always have an incredible recruiting class. Bringing in more talent isn't going to solve their issues.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^
Michigan State needs a program overhaul.
Ohio State is already the most talented team in the B1G and top 3 in the country. They need a few tweaks and a new play caller on offense, not an overhaul. If they go the overhaul route, probably good for Michigan.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
As a Michigan fan, many of us understand just how critical the QB is to a team. And, the impact a few “better” decisions / throws - can have on the outcome of a game.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:30 PM ^
Day should start wearing a cowboy hat and sunglasses like coach Prime.
December 4th, 2023 at 5:14 PM ^
might look something like this...
fleming is a good fit, I like WRs who are team players and block. Just can't get enough.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
Ok now I might be convinced something is going on down there.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
He had over 500 receiving yards last year with 6 TDs. Yeah, he had a drop off this year with it becoming the Harrison swan song with a new QB and challenged O line, but damn, looks like the wheels are falling off in Columbus.
Did they forget it is a 12 team playoff next year?
December 4th, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
Apparently, the flies are getting tired of the shit.
Only a matter of time before MHJ opts out for the NFL (which he should do, anyway) and Missouri wins the Cotton Bowl and we hear again just how strong the SEC is...
December 4th, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^
At this point, I hope the B1G gets obliterated (except for Iowa and Minnesota). I want those schools to realize how far the gap is between them and us.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
Normally losing a guy like this would hurt most any team, but OSU has probably 10 receivers on its roster who are ranked just like him. Especially since they have that recruit coming up from Florida next year who everyone is saying is going to be the next Julio Jones (Jeremiah Smith is his name, I think?).
Moral of the story: OSU is going to be just fine at this position.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
There was/is some smoke that Jeremiah Smith will flip to FSU.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
....but FSU doesn't have a Quarterback! /s
December 4th, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^
I agree but he was a starter all season ahead of the next guys up. He would have been a starter next season and would have provided some consistency and leadership. Something isn’t right in Columbus right now.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
Are they though? If osu was so loaded at WR then why are MHJ and Egbuka the only two main targets? Not counting stover here. Where are the rest of their 5* WRs where they could have had 3 or 4 wide? For having so many weapons Mccord sure threw to 2 guys quite a bit.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:46 PM ^
McCord is a 1 read QB. Why bother with a 4th guy when he ain't getting the ball.
Eventually you get enough 5*s some are gonna hit big just by probability. MHJ was not even one of their 5*s! (high 4)