Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1454229
4 6 M A R C H 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M I n offensive lineman Drew Shelton, Penn State landed one of its most important prospects in the 2022 cycle. With head coach James Franklin and assistants Phil Trautwein and Ty Howle leading the way, the staff got the job done early with the in-state prospect, securing his verbal commitment on Sept. 4, 2020. "There were two things for me," Shel- ton told BWI at the time. "Who wouldn't want to win a national championship for your home state? That was one thing for me, as well as really connecting with a bunch of their coaches. Coach Howle, Coach Trautwein and Coach Franklin all built good relationships with me. We re- ally had a great connection, so I figured if I already knew what I wanted to do, why wait it out?" Shelton said it wasn't long after his first visit to Penn State's campus that he "real- ized that it was a special place." But even after he announced his commitment, some uncertainty lingered. Shelton took an official visit to Flor- ida the following June, an experience he described as "thought provoking." But a week later, after an official visit to Penn State, Shelton reaffirmed his decision to become a Nittany Lion. "Coach Franklin told me that I'm a leader of this class and that I'm a big part of their peer recruiting," he said. "Guys aren't going to take me as seriously when I'm still shopping myself around, espe- cially compared to someone like Kaden [Saunders], who shut it all down." Locking down Shelton's commitment for good was of massive importance for the Nittany Lions, who are still looking for sustained success along the offensive line after a difficult season in 2021. A four-star recruit, Shelton is the No. 130 overall prospect in the Class of 2022 according to the On3 Consensus. He's the No. 10 offensive tackle and the No. 3 pros- pect in Pennsylvania, having transferred back to Downingtown West after a few months at IMG Academy in Florida early last year. Shelton helped lead Downingtown West to a 13-2 record and a Ches-Mont League title during his sophomore sea- son, and he was part of an 11-2 team as a freshman. As a senior, he won All-Great Lakes Region honors. And while he was known best for his stellar play on the offensive line, he also saw action on defense his se- nior year, making 22 tackles and recover- ing six fumbles. "Drew Shelton's impact on our pro- gram was immediate," his head coach at Downingtown West, Michael Milano, said. "In 2019, as a sophomore he became a starter at offensive tackle and was an integral part of our district championship team. His physicality helped our team break every scoring record in Chester County and finish 13-2." ■ A Downingtown native, Shelton said after committing to the Lions in September 2020, "Who wouldn't want to win a national championship for your home state?" PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER Drew Shelton's Leadership Boosts Nittany Lions' Class DAV I D E C K E R T | D AV I D E C K E R T 9 8 @ G M A I L . C O M DREW SHELTON OT | 6-5 | 275 DOWNINGTOWN WEST HIGH DOWNINGTOWN, PA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE consensus ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 130 10 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 249 19 7 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 76 10 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 147 14 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 157 14 3 STATISTICS • Finished with 22 tackles (nine solo), six fum- ble recoveries and one forced fumble while play- ing defense as a senior. • Helped Downingtown West's offense average 328 yards per game as a junior. • Was part of an offensive line that enabled the Whippets to average 394.7 yards per game during his sophomore year, including 222.9 yards per game rushing. NOTABLE • Helped lead Downingtown West to a 13-2 record and Ches-Mont League championship as a sophomore. • Accepted an invitation to the Under Armour All-America Game. • Was an All-Great Lakes Region pick as a se- nior. • Served as a team captain in 2020. • Mother, Sarah King, played basketball at Aquinas College from 1996-98. RECRUITMENT • Committed to PSU on Sept. 4, 2020. • Recruited primarily by offensive line coach Phil Trautwein. • Picked Penn State over Florida. • Officially visited PSU on June 18, 2021. 2022 PROJECTION Like most offensive linemen, Shelton is ex- pected to redshirt as a true freshman. THEY SAID IT Charles Power, On3 director of scouting and rankings: "Shelton moved pretty well [during practice sessions for the Under Armour All- America Game]. He has a nice frame and should continue to add some mass once he gets into Penn State's strength program." BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "Shelton has all the ingredients to be a high-quality tackle in the Big Ten. His long reach, combined with his flexible, low profile and a nasty demeanor, mean there are few holes in his game. While he's un- dersized and a bit raw as a pass-blocker, he has the tools and temperament to fix those issues in due time. Also, because of Penn State's dire need for tackle prospects, Shelton is easily one of the most critical recruits in this class."