We Can Go Much Farther: Olu Fashanu Has Big Plans for 2023

Olu Fashanu is somewhat of an enigma. A dominating force on the football field, Fashanu is poised and reserved off it. You’d never suspect he is one of the best offensive linemen in college football by how he carries himself.

In fact, Fashanu seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the praise during media availability following Penn State football’s THON Explorers Program on Saturday. Awkwardly laughing off the comments several times, Fashanu struck me as someone who doesn’t care about personal acclaim.

Instead, Olu Fashanu is focused on what Penn State football can achieve in 2023.

Rapid Riser

Fashanu’s rise at Penn State has been anything from usual.

A former three-star recruit out of Washington DC, Fashanu didn’t see the field in the 2020 COVID season. In 2021, he appeared in nine games, including his first career start in the Outback Bowl to finish the year. Fashanu likely would have made his first start before the bowl but was hampered by injuries during the fall.

Throughout last year, the folks inside Lasch felt they had something special developing at left tackle. And in 2022, Olu Fashanu delivered. Fashanu allowed no sacks and only seven pressures in eight games this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

This helped Fashanu shoot up NFL Draft boards, climbing as high as a projected top-ten pick.

But for Fashanu, this was outside noise. He even deleted his social media from his phone during game weeks. “Being able to focus in on each opponent and dialing in each week helped me to keep my head straight,” he said Saturday.

Setback Creates an Opportunity

Fashanu missed the final five games of Penn State’s 2022 season due to injury. Despite this setback, the left tackle’s draft stock remained high. Given the risks and potential payday, many expected Fashanu to declare for the NFL Draft.

In his mind, Fashanu felt he had made his case as well. “I feel like I’ve put in the work,” he said. “And the coaches have also put in the work developing me. I definitely feel like I would have been ready to leave if I wanted to last year.”

But instead, Fashanu decided to stay, announcing the decision in late November. Rather than getting healthy and preparing for the NFL Combine, Fashanu used the circumstance to reconnect with football and recommit to his team.

“[The injury] was an opportunity for me to realize how much I love football,” Fashanu said. “I was just trying to find different ways I could help. Like being a left tackle coach for Drew [Shelton]. Being there for all the other linemen if they ever needed anything…just trying to help out the room in any way I could….”

“We Can Go Much Farther than That”

Moving forward, Fashanu is healthy and has his list of priorities set for spring practice.

“Yeah, I’m good to go for spring,” he said Saturday. “For me personally, there’s not a perfect player. I think I’m far from it… [it’s] just fine-tuning the small details so I can be more productive on the field.”

Fashanu can also mentor Penn State’s incoming offensive line class, one of the best the Nittany Lions have assembled in recent memory. When asked how to do this, Fashanu stated it’s about never letting the younger players slack off. In this regard, Fashanu’s path was laid by those who came before him.

“When I was a freshman, I had the older guys like Rasheed Walker, Mike Miranda, Michal Menet, and Will Fries,” he said. “They were all great for me when I was a freshman. So just being that type of guy for them – I think that would be really good for their development.”

“Being the type of guy that will never let them slack off.”@olu_fashanu on how he can help the incoming offense line class grow in their first year on campus. pic.twitter.com/n5myCB4IIJ

— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) February 19, 2023

But the question remains – how could Olu Fashanu return to Penn State? Hadn’t he proved to himself and everyone else that he was ready for the next step?

For Fashanu, the answer is multifaceted. He wants to get his degree. His parents have always stressed the importance of education, but completing his degree became a personal goal once Fashanu realized he could play college football. Once this is accomplished, Fashanu looks forward to starting his master’s in supply chain management this fall.

But there’s also something more. This goal isn’t reserved for Fashanu alone. Instead, it’s a collective mission for everyone inside the Lasch Building.

“The way we ended the season last year with the Rose Bowl victory and New Year’s Six bowl was awesome. Not only myself but everyone else here knows that we can go much farther than that. Being on the team again, having that opportunity to go to that spot is a pretty big motivating factor.”

Why did @olu_fashanu decide to return to Penn State?

“Going to the Rose Bowl was great…but we know we can go much farther than that.” #WeAre pic.twitter.com/O2pWBrNzTV

— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) February 19, 2023

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