Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu started off the Nittany Lions’ NFL Draft weekend going No. 11 overall to the New York Jets in the first round of the draft on Thursday evening.
Fashanu, citing both academics and development as a football player, opted to return for an extra season last year despite projections that he would be selected in a similar position in the 2023 draft. He is the first Nittany Lion to hear his name called in the first round since Jahan Dotson went No. 16 overall in 2022 and the highest Penn State draft pick since Saquon Barkley went No. 2 in 2018.
A consensus All-American following the 2023 season, Fashanu started 12 games at left tackle and allowed no sacks in 382 pass blocking snaps during his senior season. He was named the Rimington-Pace Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year while earning first-team All-Big Ten honors.
Fashanu was the second offensive tackle drafted in the top 11 this year, with Alabama’s JC Latham going No. 7 to the Tennessee Titans.
Additionally, Fashanu marks the first Penn State offensive lineman to go in the opening round of the draft since Levi Brown went fifth overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 2007. Penn State offensive lineman Juice Scruggs is the most recent offensive lineman to be drafted out of the program, having been selected by the Houston Texans just last year as one of three Penn State players to go in that round.
Penn State could have upwards of nine more players drafted over the next several days, a mark that would tie a program record with 10 selections, matching an impressive haul in 1996. Eight draftees would match Penn State’s record under James Franklin set in 2022. Fittingly, the 1996 draft saw two Penn State offensive linemen go in the first round that draft ,with Jeff Hartings and Andre Johnson going No. 23 and No. 30 respectively.
The first round will conclude on Thursday night while rounds two and third will take place on Friday evening with the draft wrapping up Saturday with rounds four through seven.
