The Penn State football team received a huge boost of confidence at the end of the 2022 season as projected first-round NFL draft pick Olumuyiwa “Olu” Fashanu announced he would return to State College with unfinished business. On Wednesday the Big Ten Media Days began and Fashanu was one of three Nittany Lions representing the Blue and White at this event. Earlier in the morning the Big Ten announced the 2023 Big Ten Preseason Honorees, where Fashanu was a representative of the Big Ten East.
Penn State Football OT Olu Fashanu Named a Big Ten Preseason Honoree
Before the 2023 season kicks off preseason awards must be handed out to the conference leaders of the Big Ten. The conference selected 10 total players for this honor, 5 from each side of the conference. Olu Fashanu was among Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Michigan RB Blake Corum, Michigan QB JJ McCarthy, and Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
It’s a high honor to be mentioned alongside the best players in the Big Ten East. Penn State has come a long way in terms of their development on the offensive line. Coach Franklin often refers to when he arrived in State College he only had 5 scholarship offensive linemen. Now, they have a projected first-round pick and one of the best offensive line units in the Big Ten and in the country.
Because of these results, the Nittany Lions have been able to stack strong offensive linemen on the recruiting trail. The 2023, 2024, and 2025 recruiting classes are loaded with talent in the trenches. It’s interesting to think that Olu Fashanu and the Penn State coaching staff have launched PSU into a popular destination for offensive linemen in the future.
James Franklin Praises Fashanu at Big Ten Media Days
As Penn State head coach James Franklin took the podium on Wednesday at the Big Ten Media Days he began to sing the praise of the 2023 Nittany Lions. Franklin spoke fondly of OT Olu Fashanu saying “On the offensive side of the ball, again, it starts up front. When you get a guy like Olu Fashanu who decided to come back and graduate from Penn State, highest GPA on our team, and obviously a guy that’s been a projected as a high-round draft choice leading the way.”
High praise for a player who continues to impress the Penn State community in the classroom and on the field with his performance.
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