Penn State football staff believes former 5-star OL on track to become a ‘monster’

The way the Nittany Lions have been recruiting offensive linemen over the past several cycles is really rather impressive. The Penn State football coaching staff has been able to stash and develop several players. This allows them to observe veterans such as Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace during the 2023 season. But it also allows their bodies to develop. That’s the path that second-year offensive lineman J’ven Williams is on. The future is bright for the former five-star recruit, according to Penn State strength coach Chuck Losey.

Penn State football staff believes J’ven Williams will be a ‘monster’

After appearing in three games during the 2023 season J’ven Williams redshirted. The former five-star prospect from the 2023 recruiting cycle was one of James Franklin’s top prospects. While Williams did not make a major impact on the field in 2023, he has been putting the work in, according to Chuck Losey.

According to the Penn State football official roster, Williams is currently listed at 304 pounds. Noting that the program would like to get him closer to 310 pounds, Losey expressed that the Nittany Lions have high hopes for the former five-star once he reaches his target weight.

“J’ven probably came in a little ahead of schedule from a performance standpoint,” Losey said. “J’ven’s big thing is we just need to get him a little closer to 310 as opposed to the lower 300s right now. He’s going to be a monster out there.”

J’ven Williams came into Penn State’s program ahead of schedule strength-wise.

Williams’ goal is to reach 310 pounds, which would make him “a monster,” strength coach Chuck Losey said

— Sam Woloson (@sam_woloson) February 29, 2024

It’s safe to say the future is bright for Williams, as he will likely hit that goal before the 2024 season. With Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace off to the NFL, can Williams push for a starting role this season?

Williams to follow in Fashanu’s footsteps

The best way to describe it is to say that J’ven Williams was a sponge during the 2023 season. Williams was roommates with Olu Fashanu during road games last season and did his best to observe everything he did.

“I saw what he did before he went to sleep,” Williams recently said. “He stretched. He watched film. Coach [Phil] Trautwein considers preparation a big thing. We’d have a test and we’d go over the test. He never missed a beat.”

Penn State OL J’ven Williams appears to have claimed Olu Fashanu’s No. 74. pic.twitter.com/9h7gvlQ1Ix

— Seth Engle (@bigsengtweets) February 17, 2024

Now, Williams will wear the No.74, not simply because it was his high school number, but to carry on the legacy of Olu Fashanu at Penn State.

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