re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition

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Pennsylvania receiver Julian Fleming arrived at Penn State’s 7on team camp Saturday morning with the most glowing credentials of any prospect at the talent-laden event. A member of the 2020 recruiting class, Fleming holds a five-star rating from 247Sports and is considered the top pass catcher in the nation for his cycle.

In other words, it figured to be a significant challenge for him to live up to the hype. But after watching several of his games, we’re here to tell you that if anything, this kid outperformed the hype.

Playing for a Southern Columbia team not otherwise rolling in Division I talent — 2019 QB Stone Hollenbach has received a preferred walk-on offer from Alabama and that’s pretty much it — Fleming dominated. He began the day with a long touchdown catch on Southern Columbia’s first play from scrimmage in what would be a 34-7 route of T.C. Williams from Washington, D.C.

At one point, a T.C. Williams DB became so frustrated that he grabbed Fleming by the facemask and dragged him to the ground in the middle of a route. A flag flew in. A few plays later, Fleming snagged another TD.

But his best performance came against DeMatha Red, a team from the Maryland high school powerhouse that featured D-I talent everywhere you looked. That included two four-star Class of 2019 safeties in Nick Cross (whose offer list is crazy) and DeMarcco Hellams (a recent Alabama commit).

Fleming scored three touchdowns (we have footage of two of them above), including a deep bomb down the middle where he blew past Hellams. It was almost comical to watch DeMatha attempt to guard him. When the defense backed off, he went across the middle and showed great hands catching the ball in traffic. When the defense tried to play tight, he went deep, and Hollenbach did an outstanding job of getting the ball to him.

DeMatha was forced into actually double-teaming him — having a corner play press and a safety rotate WAY over to his side of the field. Southern Columbia — which obviously has seen this strategy a few times — ran quick hitters to the other side of the field where it had a numbers advantage. Hollenbach was very good at this. And Fleming did not seem the slightest bit frustrated when he was reduced to the role of a decoy.

As this was all unfolding — with most of the Penn State coaching staff watching, including head man James Franklin — you had to remind yourself of the caliber of opponent Fleming was facing. Even the boisterous DeMatha fans were left shaking their heads at times.

The result was an impressive 24-17 victory for Southern Columbia. It should be noted that the Tigers are coming off a season in which they won the PIAA AA state title, and have captured two such crowns in the last three years. But that is the second smallest classification in the state.

So there may have been questions about the quality of competition Fleming had faced. Well, if there were, there are not anymore.

DeMatha is a Division I football factory. Current Nittany Lions Shane Simmons and Mark Allen both went there. Six DeMatha products were on NFL rosters last season, including former Lion Cameron Wake.

But on Saturday, the Stags had no answers for Fleming. You can see highlights of his performance in the game — and from earlier in the day — in the video above.

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