Penn State football star makes NFL Draft, Peach Bowl decision

Olu Fashanu has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, the Penn State football star announced Friday. The decision should not come as a shock to Nittany Lions fans, as Fashanu is one of the highest-rated players in the entire Draft class and a potential top-five pick. However, Fashanu’s time with Penn State is not done, as he will at least be present for next week’s Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Olu Fashanu declares for NFL Draft, will participate in Peach Bowl

Friday brought the news that those around the Penn State football program have expected for months. Olu Fashanu has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. The star LT made his decision public in a social media post.

“There aren’t enough words to express how impactful the past four years at Penn State have been,” Fashanu wrote. “This football program, which has become my family, the Smeal College of Business, and this entire Penn State community have taught me so much.”

“I’ve been surrounded by some of the best coaches, fathers, and role models who have helped mold me into the man I am today,” he continued. “Thank you, Coach Franklin, Coach Trautwein, and the entire coaching and support staff. Your continuous love, support, and development will always mean the world to me.”

Thank you Penn State💙 pic.twitter.com/tP1LG3EeQI

— Olu Fashanu (@olu_fashanu) December 22, 2023

The Penn State football star is expected to be a top-five Draft pick, one year removed from being a projected first-round pick in last year’s NFL Draft.

Fashanu expressed that he will be with Penn State when the Nittany Lions take on Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl next week. However, the extent to which he will play is not known. Much like Saquon Barkley in 2017, we may see the star Nittany Lion on a snap count.

Olu Fashanu has already secured his place among the greatest offensive linemen in Penn State football history. Over the last two seasons, Fashanu has allowed zero sacks in 663 passing snaps.

Fashanu will go out on top after a tremendous 2023 season, becoming the first Penn State offensive lineman since 1995 to earn recognition as a consensus All-American. He also was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, also known as the “Academic Heisman.”

“He’s hungry every single day, Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein said of Olu Fashanu earlier this season. “No matter what people say about him, good or bad, he doesn’t care. He just wants to be great. And when you have that mindset, all that other stuff doesn’t really matter. Like, he just wants to go and just be great. And to work hard and work on his fundamentals.”

Penn State star leaves major hole to fill for the Nittany Lions

Obviously, losing a talent like Olu Fashanu creates a massive void that is difficult for any team to fill. But Penn State football has been preparing for this inevitability for some time.

The Nittany Lions have been working Drew Shelton into the rotation considerably over the last two years. Shelton started five games at LT in 2022 when Fashanu was sidelined due to injury. Penn State also has former five-star J’ven Williams, who redshirted this fall.

The offensive line could have quite a different look for the Nittany Lions in 2024. C Hunter Nourzad has exhausted his eligibility and will be moving on. Penn State also awaits a Draft decision from Sal Wormley, while Caedan Wallace declared on December 16.

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