Ohio State wide receiver Julian Fleming entered the transfer portal earlier this month and is trending toward a commitment to Penn State. Not only is he from the Keystone State, he appeared to receive a pretty nice incentive from the NIL partners in State College.
Fleming, a rising fifth-year senior, was a former five-star prospect in the college football recruiting Class of 2020. He will have one year of eligibility left at his future program.
Although nothing is official, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions appear to be in the lead for his commitment. Nebraska is also in the mix. However, it would be shocking if he didn’t return home to Pennsylvania at this point.
Especially after Fleming flexed his new Dodge Ram 1500 TRX on Instagram.
More than likely, the truck was gifted to him as part of an NIL deal. That’s how the modern era works!
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Fleming also revealed his impending commitment in the process.
On the top left corner of the tailgate was a very telling logo. It reads in big letters ‘Alexander.’
Blaise Alexander Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of State College is located less than one half mile from Penn State’s campus. The dealership is the ‘Official Corporate Partner of Penn State Athletics.’
Other Alexander-owned dealerships have partnered with local college athletes for NIL deals in the past.
Thus, by doing the math, Fleming probably received his new Ram from the Alexander dealership in State College as part of a new NIL deal that is contingent on his commitment to Penn State. The odds are high that there is a direct correlation between the two.
wait a second pic.twitter.com/kq1NXjOr3F
— Poerbler (@Poerbler) December 22, 2023
There is no timeline for Fleming to make an official public announcement. If the truck is in fact part of an NIL deal with Alexander and/or Happy Valley United, he has already informed the staff of his decision.
Fleming, who struggled with injuries during the early portion of his career, has seen something of a resurgence in the last two years. He caught 34 passes for 533 yards and six touchdowns in 2022 and hauled in 26 catches for 270 yards in 2023. The wide receiver room in Columbus was stacked, so he finished behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka this past season.
Julian Fleming, at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, will be a great primary target for Drew Allar next year.