Olu Fashanu found it relatively easy to decide to return to Penn State last year.
Although he could have become a millionaire as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, Olu Fashanu chose to return to Penn State because he had unfinished business.
Fashanu wanted to finish his bachelor’s degree requirements and improve as an offensive tackle.
He stated, “I think I’m a better player. I don’t regret coming back for another year. This last year has been one of the best years of my life, getting another opportunity to be with the guys and to compete and be with this program.”
The 6-6, 312-pound Fashanu is expected to be among the first 15 picks in this year’s NFL Draft, possibly as early as No. 7 by the Tennessee Titans.
He did not allow a sack in 646 pass-blocking snaps during his two seasons as Penn State’s starting left tackle, which is an outstanding achievement.
After sustaining a minor quad injury at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this month, he participated in some drills at Penn State’s Pro Day last week.
Fashanu reported, “It wasn’t significant. Earlier this week I did a little dry run and I felt good enough to do some drills here. I’m not 100%. I’m close to 80%.”
Fashanu anticipates being completely healthy before the NFL Draft, in Detroit from April 25-27. He estimated that he’s met with 13 to 18 teams.
He stated, “This process has definitely been everything I imagined. (It’s been) a lot of work, talking to teams and meeting other prospects during training and at the Combine. It’s been great. I’m just thankful to be in this position.”
One of those prospects is USC quarterback Caleb Williams, Fashanu's high school teammate at Gonzaga College in Washington, D.C. It’s projected that the Chicago Bears will select Williams with the No. 1 pick. The Bears also hold the ninth selection, which they could use to choose Fashanu.
When asked if he thought about ending up on the same NFL team as Williams, Fashanu answered, “Of course.” “When we spoke at the Combine, we didn’t even talk about that. We were just catching up. The last time I saw him in person was my senior year. It’s been a while.
“We had a lot to talk about. That’s my boy.”
In high school, Fashanu was not considered a top prospect. Rivals awarded him four stars, while other recruiting services gave him three.
At Nittany Lions, he was redshirted in 2020 and played sparingly in 2021 until making his first career start in their Outback Bowl loss to Arkansas. He became highly regarded in 2022 before he suffered a season-ending injury against Ohio State, the eighth game of the season.
He performed exceptionally well last year and was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American, making him Penn State’s first offensive lineman to receive this honor since Jeff Hartings in 1995.
Fashanu reported that he worked on becoming a more vocal leader last year. He aimed to mentor younger offensive linemen such as former Wyomissing standout J’ven Williams and Anthony Donkoh, who joined in January 2023.
“They’re good men on and off the field,” Fashanu stated. “They are eager to learn, which is the most important thing for a young player. They are eager to improve. You can observe that in the way they approach all our activities every day. They have a very promising future ahead of them.”
As it is for Fashanu, who is excited for the draft.
“It’s going to be amazing,” he shared. “It’s a moment I’ve longed for. It’s been a goal of mine for a very long time, since I started playing football. When that moment arrives, I’m not exactly sure what I’ll do. I just want to ensure that I welcome everyone who has been with me throughout this time.”
