2024 NFL combine prospect profile: Olu Fashanu, Tackle
Penn State is expected to have quite a few players selected in the upcoming 2024 NFL draft, but none are more highly touted than offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. Fashanu has been a big name in draft circles going back to his breakout junior season in 2022, and his strong junior campaign did nothing to hurt his NFL future.
Many thought he should take advantage of his hype last year and enter the draft as a 20-year-old, but his return to Happy Valley in 2023 helped the team reach 10+ wins for the second consecutive season. His efforts seem likely to make him a high first-round pick, and he would be only the second first-round pick at tackle for Penn State this century (Levi Brown in 2007).
Here is everything you should know about Olu Fashanu as he prepares for the NFL combine.
Vitals
Hometown | Waldorf, MD |
Projected Position | Offensive Tackle |
Height | 6’6″ |
Weight | 317 lb |
Overview
Olu Fashanu’s rise to elite draft prospect was not something anyone would have predicted based on his recruiting profile. He was a 3-star offensive tackle coming out of Washington D.C’s Gonzaga High School, and he was just outside the top 400 prospects nationally in 2020 according to 247Sports. Several of his fellow draft prospects like Curtis Jacobs and Theo Johnson were ranked higher, as were recent draft picks Ji’Ayir Brown and Parker Washington.
Fashanu did not appear in a game his freshman season, then played sparingly in 2021 before taking over as the starting left tackle as a junior in 2022. His season was cut short due to injury, but in the eight games he played, he established himself as one of the best pass protectors in college football. He chose to return for his senior year and further improved his game while helping Penn State to a 10-3 record.
Fashanu may have been selected even earlier in the draft than he will be this year had he come out in 2023, but another year of development has made him a better player.
Strengths
Olu Fashanu was one of the best tackles in all of college football over the past two seasons, and there is a clear reason why. His ability as a pass protector is rare for a tackle as young as he was during his college career, allowing zero sacks and just 17 pressures in 733 pass-blocking snaps (according to PFF). His size and length allow him to keep pass rushers from getting into his chest, and he is a smooth mover at his size.
His run blocking isn’t always great (more on that later), but when he is asked to block on the move he was more effective in 2023 than in 2022. He isn’t a complete prospect in the way that a few others in this class could be but in a pass-heavy league, his pass protection means a lot to NFL teams.
Weaknesses
As good of a pass protector as Fashanu is, there are a few potential issues he will need to iron out in the NFL. His worst game by a mile as a college player came against Ohio State this season, giving up six pressures. To be fair, Ohio State has two NFL-caliber edge rushers in J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, but the reason for his struggles is the issue. Those two are primarily power rushers, and they overpowered Fashanu multiple times for pressures on the quarterback.
I don’t think Fashanu lacks the strength to handle power, he just doesn’t always use his length as well as he could and he can allow bull rushers to get into his chest. He also just doesn’t move people in the run game the way some teams would prefer, which could limit his ceiling. He did improve as a run blocker in 2023, so more growth there could easily happen.
Best NFL player comparison
You can find a more in-depth breakdown of this comparison here, but Las Vegas Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller had a similar profile coming out of college. He is a big, tall tackle with great movement skills who was a lackluster run blocker early in his NFL career. While he has improved on that as a pro, it’s his ability in pass protection that has made him a consistent starter for nearly a decade.
Miller had a rough start to his career, but he hasn’t given up more than four sacks in any of the last four seasons. If a team knew they were getting a player at the level of Miller, I think they would take them about as early as I expect Fashanu to go. Fashanu has the chance to be an even better player than Miller, but if this comp comes true nobody will be disappointed.
Where Fashanu sits among draft prospects
As things stand now before the combine, Fashanu is either the second or third-ranked tackle prospect on most analysts’ boards. Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt is the consensus top offensive lineman thanks to his all-around dominance in 2023, and Oregon State right tackle Taliese Fuaga is above Fashanu for some because of his physicality and run blocking.
Like most years with multiple first-round tackle prospects, it may come down to preference for where the top guys get drafted. If you need a true left tackle who can protect the blindside of your quarterback, Fashanu or Alt are both great options. If you are looking to get more physical in the trenches and want to kickstart your run game, then Fuaga may be best. Either way, I expect Fashanu to be off the board no later than the middle of the first round.
