While Penn State will be without star receiver Parker Washington for the rest of the season, two more crucial pieces to the Nittany Lions’ puzzle could be back as soon as this weekend, according to coach James Franklin. The players in question: offensive linemen Olu Fashanu and cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
“Olu Fashanu we expect back. When that is, we’ll see,” Franklin said on Tuesday. “Hopefully this weekend we’ll see how that plays out. And same thing with Joey Porter.”
Porter has missed the past two games because of appendicitis but could be set to return this weekend to the Nittany Lions already stout secondary and coverage units. So far this season, Porter has registered 26 tackles to go with 11 pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry. Penn State’s defense currently leads the nation in passes broken up.
While Porter has not announced his NFL Draft intentions as of yet, he is generally expected to at least explore those options following the season as a draft choice many experts expect could go in the first or second round.
“I’d really like to talk about this year,” Franklin said. “We’re having conversations, ongoing conversations with the players. Hunter Nourzad [who is returning to Penn State in 2023] wanted to make an announcement of what his intentions were. That’s up to him. But we have conversations that are going on and I’m happy to talk about this week and then obviously, you know we always get together or typically get together after the season is over. We’ll have an opportunity to be able to address those things in more detail. And to be honest with you I’m not even avoiding the question. Not all of those conversations and decisions have been made yet.”
As for Fashanu, the team’s starting left tackle has missed the past three games after sustaining an undisclosed injury in the fourth quarter of the loss to No. 2 Ohio State on Oct. 29. A rising draft star in his own right, the redshirt sophomore could also end up declaring for the NFL Draft with three years of eligibility remaining.
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