Eye of the Storm : Julian Means-Flewellen ‘28

10/6/2026 3:37:00 PM

For Julian Means-Flewellen, success at Lake Erie College has become about much more than what happens when the football is in his hands.

The junior running back from Niles, Michigan, has grown from a young player seeking an opportunity into one of the leaders of the Lake Erie College football program. After leading the Storm with 514 rushing yards last season, Means-Flewellen entered this year with greater expectations for both himself and the team around him.

His path to Lake Erie began with a phone call from head coach Demir'r Boldin Price during Means-Flewellen's senior year of high school. Price had only recently taken the job, but his vision for the program immediately caught Means-Flewellen's attention.

"His goals of being here at Lake Erie and his passion for football really drove me to come here," Means-Flewellen said.

Lake Erie's smaller campus also gave him what he was looking for academically. The opportunity to build relationships with professors while competing in what he considers one of the strongest Division II conferences made the College feel like the right fit.

Since arriving in Painesville, Means-Flewellen has continued to grow in nearly every area of his game. One of his biggest improvements has been learning to run with more patience.

"When I first got here, I was really antsy, really jittery in my runs," he said. "Now I'm more of a veteran running back, so I'm a lot more patient with my runs, and I trust my reads a lot more."

That development became evident last season. Although he entered the year primarily as a backup, Means-Flewellen made the most of the opportunities he received. He credits much of his success to the offensive line and the trust the coaching staff placed in him.

His 154-yard performance against Kentucky Wesleyan became a particularly important moment in his college career. It was his first breakout performance and gave him confidence that he could compete at a high level within the G-MAC.

"It really showed me that I can do it," Means-Flewellen said. "I can compete against some of the best in this conference."

His aggressive running style is complemented by the relationships he has developed with the players blocking in front of him.

"Those are my guys," he said of the Storm offensive line.

The bond goes beyond football. Means-Flewellen spends time with the linemen away from the field, watches games with them and even lives with two of them. That closeness reflects the larger culture he sees developing throughout the program.

Julian Means-Flewellen

Means-Flewellen describes this year's team with one word: brotherhood.

"This is the biggest brotherhood I've ever been around," he said. "It's not just individuals playing for themselves. It's like you're playing for one team."

That brotherhood has come with a change in mentality. Means-Flewellen said the team has become more focused on winning and holding itself to a higher standard. One phrase that has helped define that mindset is "11 as one."

"We're just as strong as our weakest link," he said. "If our weakest link isn't doing well, we're not going to do well."

As an upperclassman, Means-Flewellen has taken on greater responsibility for maintaining that culture. He has become more vocal, especially with younger players who look to him as an example in both practice and the classroom.

For him, leadership is not about treating every teammate the same.

"We all come from different backgrounds, different cultures," he said. "You just have to know how to talk to the right person at the right time and really understand them for them and not somebody else."

Leadership has been part of Means-Flewellen's identity for years. In high school, he served as captain of the football, wrestling, and track teams. Wrestling taught him toughness and how to perform through adversity, while track helped develop the speed and explosiveness that have become important parts of his game.
Julian Means-Flewellen

His example carries into the classroom, too. A two-time Academic All-G-MAC recipient, Means-Flewellen takes pride in being a student before an athlete. He credits his parents with establishing those priorities early in his life.

"It shows that they raised me right to be a student first," he said. "I take a lot of pride in that because I've got to have a career after football."

One person who has helped make his academic experience meaningful is criminal justice professor Dr. Brian Kinnard, Professor of Criminal Justice and Program Director of Criminal Justice/Sociology. Their relationship extends beyond the classroom, with Kernard attending football games and regularly talking with Means-Flewellen about them afterward.
His growth away from football has also included something more personal.

Means-Flewellen said strengthening his relationship with God has been one of the biggest changes he has experienced since coming to Lake Erie. Learning to trust his faith to guide him has become an important part of his life.

He still has plenty he wants to accomplish before his Lake Erie career ends.

Individually, Means-Flewellen has set his sights on becoming an All-American and reaching 1,000 rushing yards. As a team, his goals are even bigger: compete for a G-MAC championship and make a playoff run.

Julian Means-Flewellen

"There's no team in this conference that scares us," he said. "I definitely see that ability for us to do that with the players that we have here. We're definitely capable of that."

Beyond Lake Erie, Means-Flewellen hopes to continue playing football for as long as possible. If an opportunity comes after college, he plans to pursue it. His criminal justice studies have also led him to consider becoming a state trooper.

Away from the football field, he has another competitive outlet: golf. His father introduced him to the sport when he was younger, and he enjoys it more each year.

"I have a lot of joy in golf," Means-Flewellen said. "A lot of people wouldn't think that about me."

When his Lake Erie football career eventually ends, Means-Flewellen does not want his legacy defined only by rushing yards, awards, or victories.

He wants his teammates to remember someone they could count on. A leader on and off the field. Someone who was fun to be around. Someone who remained a brother long after the final whistle.

"I want them to remember me as just being a good leader on and off the field," Means-Flewellen said, "and like a brother for life."

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