Penn State’s James Franklin details the recruiting process of Ohio State transfer WR Julian Fleming

The last time James Franklin spoke to the media was after Penn State’s loss to Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl, a defeat that highlighted one of the team’s biggest areas of weakness. The wide receivers, held without a catch until the fourth quarter, were nonfactors.

A few days after the Peach Bowl, Penn State bolstered its wide receiver room with a familiar face. Julian Fleming, the former Southern Columbia standout and Ohio State receiver, committed to the Nittany Lions on Jan. 3. He enrolled and was announced Jan. 11.

On Tuesday, one month after Fleming’s arrival, Franklin sat in the Beaver Stadium media room and discussed the change his program underwent since Atlanta. Penn State added four scholarship players via the transfer portal, but no name was bigger than Fleming’s.

There’s well-documented history between the parties. Fleming was a five-star prospect, the top player in Pennsylvania and the No. 4 overall prospect in the country, according to 247 Sports, in the 2020 recruiting class. He was a top priority for Franklin and his staff. And instead of staying home, Fleming opted to go to one of Penn State’s biggest foes, Ohio State.

“It was a long and lengthy and extensive recruiting process for him and his family. For a while there, we felt like (a commitment) was coming,” Franklin said of Fleming’s recruitment out of Southern Columbia. “Then, we ended up losing him. And now, he’s back with us.”

Fleming played four years at Ohio State, reaching two College Football Playoffs. He totaled 963 yards and seven touchdowns on 79 receptions in 38 games. His best season came in 2022 when he ranked third on the team with 533 yards and six touchdowns on 34 catches.

But Fleming never truly emerged in a crowded and talented receiver room that has produced first-round draft picks like Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and, soon enough, Marvin Harrison Jr. Fleming steps into a different situation at Penn State.

Wide receiver was a need in the portal. KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Harrison Wallace III, the team’s leading receivers, are back for 2024. But the group struggled to produce on a consistent basis in 2023. Route-running and separation played a part in Penn State’s inability to create explosive plays, ranking 110th in the FBS in passing plays of 20 yards or more.

When Fleming entered the portal in December, he was an obvious target for Franklin and his staff, from both a talent and a familiarity standpoint.

“One of the things we’d prefer to do if possible is, when we go into the transfer portal, I would love it to be a guy that we recruited on the front end,” Franklin said. “It’s a short period of time for the parents, for the players and for our staff to get to know each other. It’s a mad dash.

“I think there’s familiarity and comfort there for him and his family. I think there’s familiarity and comfort there for us. His ability to play in this league I think is helpful. He kind of understands what this league is all about. He also has an understanding about the playoffs, as well. So those things are valuable. And he’s an older guy, which also helps in that room.”

Franklin continued, pointing out that he and his staff don’t make promises about starting jobs or playing time during the recruiting process, out of high school and the transfer portal. Players have to “earn it.” That’s something that Fleming, possibly the team’s No. 1 target in 2024, has taken to heart since arriving.

“Where Julian has done a really good job, like most scenarios whether it’s a job or a team, at first you keep your mouth shut and your ears open and put your foot down and go to work and earn everybody’s respect and then gradually over time become more vocal, if that’s part of your leadership style and personality. I think he’s done a good job of that,” Franklin said.

“I’ve heard really good reports from the strength staff, from the coaches and from the players, probably most importantly. He’s done a good job with all those things. So far, so good.”