Penn State football star breaks program drought with major honor

No Penn State football player has been more decorated in the weeks following the end of the 2023 regular season than Olu Fashanu. But with his latest honors, Fashanu broke a program drought almost three decades in the making. This week, the star LT was recognized by the Sporting News and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as a first-team All-American. As a result, Fashanu became the first Nittany Lions offensive lineman in the 21st Century to reach consensus All-American status.

Olu Fashanu becomes first Penn State offensive lineman in nearly 30 years to be recognized as consensus All-American

Olu Fashanu clinched his own piece of Penn State football history this week when he was recognized as a first-team All-American by the Sporting News and AFCA. The outlets joined the Associated Press and the Walter Camp Football Foundation as the other NCAA-recognized organizations to honor Fashanu as a first-team All-American this season.

Honored by four of the five NCAA-recognized outlets, Fashanu secured his spot as the 41st consensus All-American in Penn State football history. He joins Carl Nassib (2015), Saquon Barkley (2017), and Micah Parsons (2019) as the four Nittany Lions to accomplish the feat in the James Franklin era.

But the honor breaks a nearly 30-year drought for the Nittany Lions on the offensive front. The last Penn State offensive lineman to achieve consensus All-American status was Jeff Hartings in 1995.

Praise keeps pouring in

Olu Fashanu has already eclipsed several milestones with his award recognition this season. Last week, Fashanu became the first Penn State offensive lineman since Levi Brown in 2006 to be honored as an All-American in back-to-back years. He also won the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, Penn State’s first since 2008. He was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, awarded to college football’s premier scholar-athlete, as well.

Of course, all this praise comes as a decision looms for the Penn State lineman. Projected as a top-5 pick, Fashanu is widely expected to declare for the NFL Draft. A decision hasn’t been announced, however, nor has Fashanu’s status for the Peach Bowl on December 30.

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