Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1519242
3 4 M A Y 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M OLUMUYIWA FASHANU OT | 6-6 | 312 Projection: First-Round Pick Penn State hasn't had an offensive line- man selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since Levi Brown went to the Ari- zona Cardinals with the No. 5 overall pick in 2007. That drought is about to end. Fashanu is a shoo-in to be chosen on Day 1 of the draft and very likely will hear his name called in the first half of the first round. At certain points over the past year, he's been hailed as a top-five pick, and while the projections have slipped in re- cent weeks, he's still all but assured of be- coming the seventh Penn State offensive lineman all-time to be selected in Round 1. At 6-foot-6, 312 pounds, Fashanu has displayed his physical potential from the start. He began garnering attention as a potential first-rounder after only a hand- ful of starts at left tackle during the 2022 season. But when asked at the NFL Com- bine in February what sets him apart from other players, he pointed to his intense mentality. "I'm an ultra-competitor," he ex- plained. "I come from a competitive envi- ronment at Penn State. I know that every day I come into the facilities, I'm ready to work. I'm trying to outdo myself every day and outdo all of my teammates for the betterment of everyone. "At the end of the day, by competing with myself and my teammates, I'm not only making myself better, I'm making everyone around me better." That process continued after his college career ended. Fashanu headed to Frisco, Texas, this past winter to work out with offensive line guru Duke Manyweather at the OL Masterminds training acad- emy. Manyweather told The Athletic that Fashanu combines the physical ability of eight-time Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowler Tyron Smith with the analytical mind- set of Los Angeles Chargers standout Rashawn Slater "I think he's right up there at the top in terms of the total package," Manyweather said. One of Fashanu's more impressive stretches at Penn State came late last season when he found himself having to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Ohio State, a game in which he re- ceived a career-worst 47.9 blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. He followed that tough afternoon in Columbus with strong efforts against Indiana (86.1), Maryland (84.8) and Michigan (85.4). "I saw him make a jump in his run blocking, especially when you throw on the Michigan tape," Manyweather said. "He had one rough game versus Ohio State, and that was more of a communi- cation and eye-discipline issue and how it relates to picking up twists and differ- Measurements ARMS 34 INCHES HANDS 8 ½ INCHES 40 5.11 SECONDS BENCH — VERTICAL 32 INCHES BROAD 9 FEET, 1 INCH 3-CONE — 20-YARD SHUTTLE — What They're Saying About Olumuyiwa Fashanu "Fashanu does everything well. In the college game, it's very rare to see a player who's good at both pass and run blocking. It's even rarer for a player who's good at both to possibly get better. He hasn't played a ton of football in his life, so there's still [untapped] potential there." — Joel Klatt, Fox Sports "A toolsy two-year starter with loads of potential, Fashanu is still learning to be less mechanical and more instinctive with his play. At this point, he could impose his traits upon most collegiate opponents and stack the deck in his favor. As a pro, he will need to play with better control and more consistent technique to prevent being countered and beaten by NFL talent." — Lance Zierlein, NFL.com DETROIT MUSCLE DETROIT MUSCLE These Nittany Lions will be revved up and ready to go on April 25 when the three-day NFL Draft gets underway in the Motor City Olumuyiwa Fashanu received an 88.4 overall block- ing grade from Pro Football Focus last season, the best of any Penn State player. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL