It’s still almost seven excruciating months until Ohio State football is officially back, but we try to give you some content to bridge the gap on an almost daily basis. ESPN continues to project ahead too, and it has published a piece outlining each of its early top 25 programs’ impact freshman for 2020.
In the case of Ohio State — who is ranked No. 2 by ESPN by the way — there are plenty of kids to choose from. The wide-receiver room is going to have a ton of talent with a bunch of four and five-star recruits already practicing at the Woody, offensive lineman Paris Johnson, Jr is a beat and could make an immediate impact, and others could jump up and surprise. The class is loaded and some already making development strides in practice as early enrollees.
So which way did ESPN go? How about picking one of the top recruits in the entire country no matter what recruiting service you look at. Every program wanted Julian Fleming, but he chose Ohio State over Penn State and others. He was the consensus top-rated wide receiver coming out in the 2020 class and there’s good reason why.
At 6-2, 200 lbs., Fleming has the size and physicality to get off the line and make catches in traffic, but he’s got underrated speed too — almost winning the fastest man contest at The Opening.
Here is what Tom VanHaaren says about Fleming:
The Buckeyes are losing receivers K.J. Hill, Binjimen Victor and Austin Mack from the roster and have an opportunity for a receiver such as Fleming to come in and contribute early. There are other receivers on the roster, but as Garrett Wilson showed last season, coach Ryan Day isn’t afraid to let a freshman play often if he’s the best option. Fleming is a bigger-bodied receiver, at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, and has a lot of physical tools that should help him assimilate to the college game quickly. Wide receivers JaxonSmith-Njigba and Gee Scott Jr. will also have an opportunity to help the offense, but Fleming seems to be a step ahead.
Can you imagine if Fleming does flash his potential and play a lot in 2020? Combine him with Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, and it’ll be hard for opposing defenses to game plan against the weapons quarterback Justin Fields will be able to throw too.
One thing is for sure — it should be a lot of fun again in 2020 around and on the banks of the Olentangy.
