Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu is one of the top prospects in the entire 2024 NFL Draft with the expectation to blow up at the 2024 NFL Combine. An extremely polished and athletic pass protector, the former Nittany Lion was expected to cement his place as a top-10 pick.
However, after weighing in before his on-field workout, Fashanu’s hand size has left more questions than answers.
What Is Olu Fashanu’s Hand Size?
Fashanu has been on draft radars for two seasons and is considered a future starting tackle in the NFL. With razor-sharp instincts, phenomenal athleticism, and coordination, the Penn State tackle has the intangibles to be a plus starter at the next level.
Fashanu’s size has never shown up as an issue on tape, with him appearing to have above-size measurables and fantastic movement for his dimension.
Nevertheless, when Fashanu weighed in at the 2024 NFL Combine on March 3, there was a surprisingly small number on his measurements.
Fashanu measured in at 6’6”, 312 pounds, and 34-inch arms — almost identical to his listed size at Penn State. However, the Nittany Lions tackle measured in with a shocking hand size of 8 ½ inches.
According to Mockdraftable, only Drake Jackson had smaller hands among all offensive linemen to have participated at the NFL Combine. Jackson measured in with 8 ¼-inch hands out of Kentucky in 2021.
For tackles, Fashanu’s hand size is the smallest by some margin. The smallest tackle hand size in Mockdraftable’s system is nine inches, with several players, including Darnell Wright in 2023, having that measurement.
Wright is living proof for Fashanu that his hand size may not be an issue. The former Tennessee RT was drafted No. 9 overall to the Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft and started 17 games as a rookie.
We’ll have to wait until April 25 to see if this leads Fashanu to fall in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, PFN’s Lead NFL Draft Analyst, Ian Cummings, doesn’t believe the measurement will impact Fashanu’s draft stock too greatly.
“I don’t think it showed up as a major issue on tape,” Cummings claims. “His anchor strength in the run game can be a bit inconsistent, but he still has the length and athleticism to drive power and latches well in pass protection.
“His incredible feel for timing, synergy, and positioning in pass protection helps counteract any limitations.”
There is no doubt that Fashanu is supremely talented. For a tackle who only started 20 games in college, his game is surprisingly refined. An explosive player with athletic movement, the Penn State OT has the traits to limit any potential deficiency in hand size.
The only time that Fashanu struggled on film was against some power rushes — such as against Ohio State edge rusher JT Tuimoloau — where his hand technique lacked consistency. The former Nittany Lion can expose his chest at times, playing with his arms set too high, allowing opponents to work his body.
The concerns are limited, though. Every prospect who has ever declared for the NFL Draft has deficiencies, and no prospect is perfect. At just 21 years old, Fashanu’s best football is still ahead of him, but his challenge to be the top offensive lineman selected has taken a hit.
KEEP READING: Top Offensive Tackles in the 2024 NFL Draft
Fashanu has been locked in a battle for OT1 with Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, and he may have relinquished any grip he had on that tag.
Comparatively, Alt — who’s also 21 years old — measured in at 6’8”, 321 pounds with 10-inch hands. The Notre Dame product has been selected as high as No. 5 overall in mock drafts and is almost certain to be a top-10 selection.
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