Despite not being targeted in opener, Penn State has plan to get WR Julian Fleming involved

A frequently asked question from fans coming out of Penn State’s 2024 opener at West Virginia centered on one of the Nittany Lions’ high-profile transfers: where was Julian Fleming?

Fleming, the former Ohio State wide receiver and five-star prospect at Southern Columbia, did not record a catch and wasn’t targeted in Penn State’s 34-12 win over West Virginia.

Fleming generated excitement when he decided to spend his final collegiate season with the Nittany Lions. Looking strictly at the box score, his Penn State debut was underwhelming.

But, for those who might have missed it, Fleming was out there quite a bit. According to Pro Football Focus, the fifth-year senior logged 35 offensive snaps — the same number as Harrison Wallace III, who had an eye-catching five receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Fleming’s 35 snaps were tied for second-most among skill players behind only tight end Tyler Warren’s 49 offensive snaps.

And, even though he didn’t record a catch, only two wide receivers did: Wallace and Omari Evans. Drew Allar attempted only 17 passes, so opportunities were limited.

Fleming was effective as a blocker, something he was known to do well at Ohio State. His routes opened things up for others to flourish. And the catches will come — as early as Saturday against Bowling Green.

“I thought he played really well,” coach James Franklin said. “There were a couple times where we tried to get the ball to him, but, based on coverages, it just didn’t play out that way. We definitely want to get him more involved in this game, early in the game.

“But the most important thing is the things he could control, he controlled. He blocked really well. He ran really good routes. If you go back and watch the play that we threw the touchdown to Tyler Warren, that was because of Julian. It was almost a three-vertical scheme where he’s got to get to the backside hash. But before going to the backside hash, he attacks the safety in the middle of the field and crosses his face, which occupies the safety and doesn’t allow him to slide over and get into the window of where we threw the ball to Tyler Warren. Here he is, late in the game, still running great routes to put us in a position to make big plays.

“You can say the same thing about the (50-yard touchdown) to Tre. He runs a corner route, pulls the safety out of the window and allows Tre to get hit on the skinny post for the touchdown. So, for the things that he could control, he played very, very well. And those are the things we talk about in our building. Those are the things that, for these guys’ futures, they watch.

“Obviously, you’d love stats to go with it, and those will come. We’re confident in that.”