Penn State could be playing Minnesota without one of its starting receivers and will for sure be playing without a key contributor on defense per the Big Ten availability report.
WR Julian Fleming wasn’t seen at the media’s weekly practice viewing window Wednesday and is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game against Minnesota.
DB Elliot Washington II got hurt in last week’s 49–10 win at Purdue and also wasn’t seen at practice, so it’s no surprise that he’s out.
Aside from those two, there are no other surprises. Of the eight Penn State players listed as OUT, only Washington is an addition. The other seven have been out for multiple weeks.
Penn State WR Julian Fleming wasn’t seen at practice during our weekly viewing window Wednesday and is questionable against Minnesota. DB Elliot Washington is out after getting hurt last week against Purdue. pic.twitter.com/LckfeH7aar
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) November 23, 2024
JULIAN FLEMING’S IMPACT
James Franklin and Julian Fleming during pregame warmups.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Fleming, a former five-star who played in-state at Southern Columbia, roughly an hour and a half from State College, came to Penn State after four seasons at Ohio State. Although Fleming’s been a regular starter, he hasn’t put up the big numbers many were hoping for when he transferred over the winter. Through 10 games, Fleming has 13 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown. Star tight end Tyler Warren had 17 catches for 224 yards and a score against USC. But Fleming has contributed in other ways, mainly blocking, and in that USC game, had two big, late 4th-down catches that kept Penn State’s college football playoff hopes alive.
WASHINGTON’s IMPACT
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Elliot Washington
Washington, who is listen as out for Penn Sate on the availability report, didn’t get much playing time in 2023, which is normal for a true freshman. This year, he’s taken on an increased role. Per Pro Football Focus, Washington played 82 snaps last season. This year, he’s played 289. But only nine of those snaps came against Purdue. In Washington’s absence, Audavion Collins stepped up, playing a season-high 28 snaps. He allowed two receptions for 48 yards.
Penn State-Minnesota is scheduled for 3:30 on CBS.
