Penn State has generally ‘dominated the state’ but the Nittany Lions will miss out on Pennsylvania’s top 2020 recruit as receiver Julian Fleming announced his commitment to Ohio State on Friday.
Penn State was a finalist along with Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia.
At 6-foot-2, 200-pounds the promising wideout was once a favorite to land in Happy Valley, but budding relationships with the Ohio State staff and a chance to play with Georgia transfer quarterback Justin Fields likely helped sway his decision. The Buckeyes are now coached by Ryan Day, an assistant under former head coach Urban Meyer.
The defeat on the recruiting trail is the second-straight over the state’s top player. Andre Kristofic committed to Notre Dame during the 2019 cycle. In fairness, the Nittany Lions did manage to land the No. 2 player in the state, State College corner Keaton Ellis.
Additionally former five-star Micah Parsons was the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2018 while the 2017 top-rated PA star D’Andre Swift picked Georgia a year after Miles Sanders selected Penn State as part of the 2016 class, both players at the same position.
In the Class of 2015, corner Jordan Whitehead committed to Pittsburgh.
All told the Nittany Lions will look to rebound on the recruiting trail but won’t have far to bounce. Penn State’s 2019 class was rated second-best in the Big Ten and 13th in the nation. The 2020 class is currently 10 players deep, rated 10th in the nation, and once again second-best in the conference.
