Olu Fashanu is a top offensive line prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft after a successful career at Penn State.
But Fashanu’s football career started well before his time with the Nittany Lions. Let’s take a look at his football journey from high school to college and some of his successes and honors achieved along the way.
Where Did Olu Fashanu’s Football Career Start?
Fashanu was born in Waldorf, Maryland, and attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C. Gonzaga is the oldest all-boys college-preparatory school in D.C.
In high school, Fashanu was the left tackle for projected No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. They won a high school conference championship together.
“With Caleb, everyone kinda knew in that area that he was the chosen one,” Fashanu said in a podcast interview.
While Williams might have been the talk of the high school, Fashanu was no slouch, either. He received college offers from every major program, including Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, and Georgia.
Revisiting Fashanu’s College Career
Fashanu ultimately decided to commit to play college football at Penn State University.
He didn’t play during his freshman season in 2020. However, he appeared in nine games in 2021 and made his first career start in the 2022 Outback Bowl against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Just a reminder — should one be needed — that @PennStateFball's Olu Fashanu is set to be the best offensive tackle in #CollegeFootball this season #WeAre pic.twitter.com/TNzMeod4Zx
— College Football Network (@CFN365) May 11, 2023
In 2022, Fashanu earned the full-time starting job at left tackle, starting eight games before missing the remainder of the season with an injury.
Fashanu exploded onto the scene his senior year, starting all 12 games for Penn State. He did not give up a single sack in 365 pass-block attempts his entire senior year.
Fashanu’s Potential in the NFL
After a successful senior year with the Nittany Lions, Fashanu is widely expected to be one of the first offensive linemen drafted in the first round.
In Fashanu’s scouting report, PFN draft analyst Ian Cummings explained that he’s a long, strong, powerful blocker who is also mobile and has rare recovery athleticism due to his nearly unshakable center of gravity.
“Fashanu is a blue-chip prospect and a top-10 talent in the 2024 NFL Draft on my board,” Cummings said. “In fact, on my board, he would have been the OT1 of the 2023 NFL Draft class over Paris Johnson Jr., Anton Harrison, and Darnell Wright if he had declared.
“At 6’6″, 321 pounds, Fashanu has one of the most complete physical tools and operational utility marriages in the 2024 NFL Draft class. He’s a long, strong, powerful blocker who also brings high-end short-area mobility, rare recovery athleticism, a near-unshakable center of gravity, and the torquing capacity and core strength to finish blocks.
“Meanwhile, on the technical side, Fashanu’s uncommon patience and composure help to maximize his footwork and hand usage.”
MORE: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Olu Fashanu
Fashanu has the frame and physical tools required to succeed at the next level.
Highlights, Records, and More
In his first year as a starter, Fashanu earned All-American honors in 2022. He could have declared for the NFL Draft, but decided to return to school to finish his degree in Supply Chain and Information Systems. He was an academic All-Big Ten honoree.
In 2023, Fashanu was named First-Team All-Big Ten while being named a consensus All-American. He also won the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award, selected by coaches as the best offensive lineman in the Big Ten.
KEEP READING: Top OTs in the 2024 NFL Draft
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