Ohio State WR Commitment Julian Fleming Named SI All-American

The inaugural SI All-American team is comprised of superstar pass catchers and Ohio State-bound senior Julian Fleming may pace the group.

Author:
John Garcia, Jr.
Publish date:
Dec 16, 2019

The best player in Pennsylvania, and quite possibly the nation, is headed to Ohio State.

Julian Fleming, the top-ranked receiver in the Class of 2020, earned countless national accolades – including this SI All-American selection -- after yet another prolific season for Southern Columbia (Catawissa, Penn.) High School, catching 72 passes for 1,572 yards and 23 touchdowns. He’s the state’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions, and is the only receiver in Pennsylvania history to top 5,000 career receiving yards.

He led Southern Columbia High School to 48 consecutive wins, including three consecutive state championships.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Fleming is the jewel of the Buckeyes’ loaded receiver haul. Fleming committed to Ohio State last May, winning a heated recruiting battle against Penn State, Alabama and Clemson. Fleming has been billed as an instant-impact player at the college level, a player with potential first-round NFL talent.

Why Fleming is an SI All-American:

Fleming is the wide receiver in this class who makes things look easiest on tape. Not only is he 6-foot-2 with great length, but he can really accelerate and get to top speed in a few strides. There is plenty of polish here, too, in that he is a well above average route-runner with elite ball skills.

Fleming gets out of his breaks on a good plane for a prospect his size and plucks the ball out of the air, away from his body on routine. After the catch he is as elusive as any bigger wideout in the country with an efficient and decisive running style. It makes him a threat to go the distance 0-9 on the route tree. His effortless athleticism is supported by a three-sport foundation at the varsity level that makes his ceiling on the gridiron that much more fascinating.

With the chance to make an early impact at Ohio State, Fleming fits regardless of what the Buckeyes bring back at the position. Should he make the typical improvements prep talents do at the Power Five level in the weight room and with physicality, then there is all but zero holes in this kid’s game.

2019 SI All-American Offensive Team:

QB Bryce Young, Alabama (Why Young? Highlights)

RB Demarckus Bowman, Clemson (Why Bowman? Highlights)

RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech (Why Gibbs? Highlights)

WR Julian Fleming, Ohio State (Why Fleming? Highlights)

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State (Why Smith-Njigba? Highlights)

WR Malachi Wideman, FSU (Why Wideman? Highlights)

TE Arik Gilbert, LSU (Why Gilbert? Highlights)

OL Paris Johnson, Ohio State (Why Johnson? Highlights)

OL Tate Ratledge, UGA (Why Ratledge? Highlights)

OL Javion Cohen, Alabama (Why Cohen? Highlights)

OL Issiah Walker, Florida (Why Walker? Highlights)