The Hurry Up is your nightly dose of updates from the Ohio State football recruiting trail, keeping tabs on the latest from commits and targets from around the country.
It took just three catches on Thursday night for Julian Fleming to show off nearly all of the reasons he could become an instant game-changer at Ohio State.
The Buckeyes’ No. 1-ranked receiver signee had been held in check for most of the first half in the Under Armour All-America Game, as he had just two catches for 22 yards on six targets as he and Team Savage trailed 17-3 at halftime.
Then, the nation’s No. 2-ranked overall player in the 2020 class exploded up the left side of the field, as a quick deke of an opposing Team Pressure defensive back gave him enough light to haul in a 42-yard touchdown reception in stride on Team Savage’s first drive out of the locker room.
And just to show off the athleticism that helped the 6-foot-2, 200-pound wideout become a five-star talent, Fleming sprinted into the end zone and slammed down a dunk through the horizontal field goal post in celebration.
THIS IS WHY Julian Fleming (@julian_040) is the top player in the nation!! @OhioStateFB fans are gonna LOVE this kid!#UAALLAMERICA pic.twitter.com/6PRW0EbRii
— All-America Game (@AllAmericaGame) January 3, 2020
Shortly after the touchdown catch, Fleming was featured in a brief ESPN pre-taped video segment, flashing a grin, grabbing a bracelet wrapped around his right wrist and saying, “I’m Julian Fleming, and one thing people don’t know about me is I like to steal my little sister’s bracelets because I think they’re cute.”
It’s not just talent. Looks like he’s got some light-hearted humor, too.
That sequence was the highlight of the night for Fleming, and despite having just three catches, he showed off something special with each one.
Fleming saw his first target sail over his head and out of bounds at the 9-minute mark of the first quarter, but later in the quarter he ran a quick slant and snagged a 10-yard catch in traffic for a first down.
Despite his explosive touchdown being arguably the biggest highlight play of the night in Orlando, Fleming’s second catch of the first half may have been even more impressive.
On 3rd-and-10, Fleming ran a short hitch route well shy of the sticks, turned around and was immediately met by a Team Pressure cornerback who wrapped him up. Fleming showcased his balance and muscle, though, as he was spun around while being brought to the ground, and he flashed his lower-body strength to stay inches off the turf, bounce off the tackle and power through for seven yards after the catch for a first down.
Plays like that are what drew ESPN’s announcing crew to rave about the Southern Columbia High School star who broke Pennsylvania state records for career receiving yards and career touchdowns and is a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year award winner in the state.
ESPN recruiting analyst Craig Haubert said on the broadcast that Fleming reminds him of Dez Bryant because of Fleming’s “thick structure, he’s physically put together; maybe slightly taller.”
Fleming was also compared to New England Patriots rookie wide receiver N’Keal Harry, and the analysts raved about Fleming’s body control, hand-eye coordination and ball skills.
Because Fleming’s high school team has won 81 consecutive regular season games and three consecutive state championships, Haubert says Fleming has “great intangibles” and the “expectation to perform is already ingrained in him.”
“It’s safe to say Buckeyes fans will be happy when he arrives,” play-by-play announcer Jay Alter said.
Fleming and Team Savage lost, 27-24, but it didn’t stop one of the Buckeyes’ future potential stars from receiving plenty of well-deserved attention throughout the broadcast. Fleming was praised by one of the analysts as a high-character person who is bound to be a positive influence in the locker room.
Other notes
- NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders was the coach of Team Pressure, but Sanders has praised Fleming in the past. In a pre-taped halftime segment, Sanders talked about how special he feels being a coach in this game and how he will go from coaching a lot of these players to shaking their hands in a future NFL Draft when they walk across the stage. Fleming is one such player who Sanders has high expectations for down the road.
- Three other Ohio State signees were on the Under Armour All-American Game roster – four-star defensive end Jacolbe Cowan, four-star cornerback Lejond Cavazos and four-star receiver Mookie Cooper. Cowan was seen powering his way off the edge on a few plays.
- Arizona State was a big winner Thursday night, landing commitments from the nation’s No. 2-ranked all-purpose back, Daniyel Ngata, and the nation’s No. 23-ranked receiver, Elijhah Badger. Ngata (No. 1) and Badger (No. 3) are two of the Sun Devils’ top players in the 2020 class, as Herm Edwards continues building something strong in the Grand Canyon State. Arizona State now has the 24th-ranked overall recruiting class and 4th-ranked class in the Pac-12.
- All six players who announced a commitment/signing at the game was asked why he chose the school he was committing to. The common denominator was something along the lines of “my relationship with Coach _____ was really strong.”
- I landed in San Antonio earlier this afternoon and will have updates and stories for you guys this week and next on the nine Ohio State signees who are at the All-American Bowl. First up will be a preview tomorrow of Saturday’s game. I’ll be at the West Team’s practice to see C.J. Stroud, Kourt Williams, Lathan Ransom, Gee Scott Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, if Smith-Njigba is there. According to a report by 247Sports’ Bill Kurelic, Smith-Njigba suffered an ankle injury; X-rays came back negative, but he may sit out of Saturday’s game.
