In high school, wide receiver prospects can jump off the page when they go up and win a jump ball over a DB, burn coverage down the field with speed, show elusiveness in the open field, or run over a would-be tackler. Very rarely, however, does one player possess a skill set that enables them to consistently do all of the above. Let me introduce you to a prospect who does, Julian Fleming. Fleming is a 6’2”, 200 lbs. WR from Catawissa, PA, and is committed to playing at Ohio State, starting next year. He is currently ranked as the #3 player overall in the 2020 recruiting class and holds the distinction of being the best receiver in the class from 247 Sports.
FILM REVIEW
One of the first things anyone would notice when watching Fleming is that aerial dominance on display, a defining characteristic of his game. He’s elite at the catch-point, as he is 6’2″ and possesses a 40” vertical. He challenges defenders to jump with him, and almost always, wins.
Fleming is elite bursting into the open field, possessing a 40-yard dash time of 4.45-sec. His speed allows him to explode through gaps in coverage and sprint past corners and safeties for huge gains, even when the defensive players have the angle.
He is supremely talented in the open field, utilizing his 4.01-sec. 20-yard shuttle time to make defenders look helpless with jump cuts and jukes. Fleming has a wide array of moves at his disposal and isn’t afraid to use any of them when he finds them appropriate.
His domination is perhaps most impressive when he punishes defensive players for attempting to tackle him. I’ll let the film speak for itself here.
OUTLOOK
It doesn’t take very much time watching Julian Fleming to know that his talent as a WR is top drawer, and Ohio State is getting a world-class prospect. He was the first player in Pennsylvania history to top 5,000 receiving yards in his high school career, and it’s easy to see why.
Fleming is tall, elevates well, strong, and quick. All of these characteristics ooze through his game. One thing that will be worth remembering about Fleming, however, is that he is going to Ohio State. The competition for targets will be extremely tough, with guys such as Garrett Wilson vying for passes as well. In addition, Ohio State WRs typically haven’t put up dominator ratings that their peers have, because of the system. It may appear Fleming is less productive than his peers attending other schools. The key signifier to look for will be whether he can carve out a role early, and if so, he is probably progressing how we all want him to.
Combining all of the film and metrics together, Julian Fleming looks like someone that could develop his game for Sundays while playing on Saturday.
As Always a Quick Reminder:
Every year there are high school seniors who are heralded as the “greatest thing since sliced bread” and compared to elite players who have come before them. However, many times these comparisons miss the mark and the hype is short-lived before ultimately burning out. An important reminder about high school prospects is that they are just that, high school prospects. They are the farthest thing from a sure bet as they have many obstacles to overcome before they can even consider entering their name in the NFL draft process.
All of my previous content is available in the archive and be sure to hit me up for any devy questions or discussions on Twitter @DFF_Caleb
