Olu Fashanu, setting heightened goals, outlines path to reaching them
Senior college football reporter Pete Thamel jumped aboard Penn State as a College Football Playoff contender during ESPN’s NFL Draft coverage. As preseason magazines have started to roll out this month, an early consensus has landed the Nittany Lions clearly among the nation’s top teams ahead of the 2023 season.
Even James Franklin, long shying away from declaring larger goals, has publicly flirted with the possibility this spring.
At the heart of those projections, one ingredient has consistently shown up.
– “I think number one, we got a chance to be better on the O-line,” Franklin said last month.
– “They have had a bad offensive line at Penn State for the majority of the last five years,” Thamel said. “I think they’ve finally grown up. Phil Trautwein, the position coach, has gotten them in the position where they’re gonna have multiple guys drafted. And, they’re ready to go in the trenches with Ohio State and the trenches with Michigan.”
– “With a veteran offensive line paving the way, (Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen) should continue to thrive this fall,” writes Athlon. “The Nittany Lions welcome back a likely first-round draft pick in left tackle Olu Fashanu, along with five other linemen who started at least five games last year.”
Olu Fashanu sets offensive line potential
Count Fashanu as being among the believers.
Months from starting his fourth season at Penn State, the evolution of the offensive line has reached new heights. And, according to Fashanu, that is poised to manifest itself with a performance from the group that could stand apart.
“I mean, honestly, I think we do have the potential to be the best offensive line in the country,” Fashanu told BWI this week. “But with doing that, there’s a lot of work to be done. And myself, along with the entire O-line, know that.”
Nittany Lions make strides
At the forefront of that development has been the instruction and influence of Trautwein. Arriving to the program at the same time as Fashanu, leading into the 2020 season, Trautwein has helped usher the left tackle from a developmental player into a backup and, in 2022, an All-Big Ten performer.
Starting eight games before an injury derailed his season, Fashanu was named the program’s best offensive lineman in addition to his raft of other national and conference awards and recognition. Fashanu detailed the mindset instilled by Trautwein that has guided him to these heights. Now, he’s on the cusp of a potential first-round NFL Draft selection after this season.
“Coach Trautwein is a great coach. Give him all the credit in the world for my success and the success of the O-line,” Fashanu said. “He’s just the type of coach where he’ll just never give up on you. He’ll just keep harping on the little things because, at the end of the day, the little things are what makes the difference.
“He’s a big reason why I’m big on just never being complacent and just always finding things to work on. And he’s etched that mentality since I’ve been here as a freshman. So I give him all the credit in the world.”
Next steps
Now, Fashanu and the Nittany Lion offensive line are determined to cash in on those advancements. And, they’re doing so by doubling down on the habits that have delivered them to this point this offseason. They’re intending to be among the best offensive lines in the country. They understand the potential for lofty team success that would come with it. And so, the Nittany Lions are diving in.
“We know our potential,” said Fashanu. “Not only are we willing to do the work, but we have been doing the work since the end of last season. I’m really excited for everyone. I think it’s gonna be a great year.”
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