Julian Fleming, once the nation’s top-ranked high school football recruit, pleaded guilty on April 30, 2026, to involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence after a May 2025 ATV crash in Bradford County, Pennsylvania killed his 23-year-old girlfriend, Alyssa Boyd. Under his plea agreement, he faces nine to 23 months in county jail followed by three years of probation. Sentencing is set for July 13, 2026, before Bradford County President Judge Maureen T. Beirne, and Fleming remains free on bail until then.1Yahoo Sports. Former Penn State Football Player Pleads Guilty in Fatal ATV Crash2Local 21 News. Former Penn State Football Player Pleads Guilty in Fatal Bradford County ATV Crash
The Fatal ATV Crash
On the evening of May 23, 2025, Fleming was driving a 2024 Yamaha ATV on Painter Lick Lane in Columbia Township, Bradford County, with Boyd riding as a passenger. A witness estimated the ATV was traveling roughly 30 to 40 miles per hour when a deer jumped into the road and the vehicle struck it. Both riders were thrown from the ATV. Neither was wearing a helmet.3Centre Daily Times. Former Penn State Football Player Charged in Fatal ATV Crash4Fox 56. Former Penn State Football Player Pleads Guilty in Fatal Bradford County ATV Crash
Boyd suffered extensive head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.5PennLive. Ex-Penn State Football Player’s Girlfriend Died From Head Injuries, Coroner Says Fleming was seriously injured, taken to Guthrie Troy Community Hospital, and later released.6Yahoo Sports. Ex-Ohio State and Penn State WR Julian Fleming Seriously Injured in Fatal ATV Crash
DUI Finding and Charges
Pennsylvania State Police determined Fleming had been drinking before operating the ATV. He submitted to a blood-alcohol test that registered .118, well above the state’s .08 legal limit.7NBC News. Julian Fleming, Former College Football Star, Charged With Homicide in Death of Girlfriend Separate laboratory testing placed his blood-alcohol concentration between 0.10 and 0.16 percent.8Circleville Herald. Former Ohio State, Penn State WR Julian Fleming Charged in Fatal ATV Crash
Fleming surrendered on October 8, 2025, and appeared in a Bradford County courtroom that same day. He was charged with homicide by vehicle while DUI, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle, DUI, and more than a dozen additional counts. He was released on $75,000 bail.9CBS News Pittsburgh. Julian Fleming Charges ATV Crash10Centre Daily Times. Former Penn State WR Julian Fleming Pleads Guilty in Fatal ATV Crash
The Plea Deal
Fleming pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors: involuntary manslaughter and DUI. In exchange, prosecutors dropped 11 other counts, including four felonies among them vehicular homicide while DUI and aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI.1Yahoo Sports. Former Penn State Football Player Pleads Guilty in Fatal ATV Crash
If Judge Beirne accepts the agreement at the July 13, 2026 hearing, Fleming will serve nine to 23 months at the Bradford County Correctional Facility, followed by three years of probation.2Local 21 News. Former Penn State Football Player Pleads Guilty in Fatal Bradford County ATV Crash Involuntary manslaughter is a first-degree misdemeanor under Pennsylvania law, carrying a statutory maximum of five years in prison and fines up to $10,000. The negotiated term falls well under that ceiling.
His attorney, David S. Bahuriak Jr., told the Centre Daily Times that Fleming is remorseful and in counseling. “He’s doing the best he can to process this and take accountability,” Bahuriak said.10Centre Daily Times. Former Penn State WR Julian Fleming Pleads Guilty in Fatal ATV Crash
Who Alyssa Boyd Was
Alyssa Denise Boyd, 23, lived in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Central Columbia High School and was finishing a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Alabama, with an expected graduation date of December 2025.5PennLive. Ex-Penn State Football Player’s Girlfriend Died From Head Injuries, Coroner Says A member of Gamma Phi Beta, she had played on a national championship soccer team, competed as a high school point guard, and ran hurdles in track. She is survived by her parents, David and Lorie Boyd, and her brother, Zachary.11Heller Funeral Home. Alyssa Denise Boyd Obituary
From Top Recruit to a Failed NFL Physical
Fleming grew up in Catawissa, Pennsylvania and starred at Southern Columbia Area High School, finishing as the state’s all-time leader in career receiving yards (5,514) and touchdown catches (77). ESPN ranked him the number-one overall recruit in the Class of 2020; 247Sports had him second nationally.12Penn State Athletics. Julian Fleming Player Bio13Ohio State Buckeyes. Julian Fleming Player Bio
He played four seasons at Ohio State from 2020 through 2023, then transferred to Penn State for a final year of eligibility in 2024, where his role was limited.13Ohio State Buckeyes. Julian Fleming Player Bio14Fox Sports. Julian Fleming Player Stats
He went undrafted in 2025 and reached a verbal agreement with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. When he arrived for his physical around May 1, 2025, the team’s medical staff flagged a re-torn hip and bulging disks in his back, and the Packers declined to sign him.15Packers Wire. UDFA WR Julian Fleming Didn’t Sign With Packers After Failing Physical The fatal crash followed about three weeks later.