Offensive tackle Olu Fashanu recently announced his intentions to return to Penn State next season but he may not yet be available for the Nittany Lions’ clash against Utah next month in the Rose Bowl, according to head coach James Franklin.
“We’ll see how this whole thing plays out,” Franklin said on Sunday. “Obviously, medical will play the biggest factor in all these things but we’ll see how it plays out. Olu deciding, him and his family deciding to come back was something as a program that we’re really excited about. But also making sure that we’re doing everything we possibly can to support Olu and all his academic plans and goals he has for himself, as well as playing even better next year and getting drafted as high as possible.”
Fashanu started the first eight games of his sophomore season before sustaining an injury late against Ohio State. Since then Fashanu has not suited up for the Nittany Lions while his draft status and health remained up in the air. Most credible NFL Draft projections saw Fashanu going early in the first round of the 2023 draft proceedings even with Fashanu’s undisclosed injury.
“For me to sit here and say all those things aren’t on my mind and something that I want to make sure we do a good job of, would not be accurate,” Franklin said. “Obviously, we’re excited. I’ve got a great relationship with Olu and his family and it was exciting news. But I want to make sure that we’re doing everything we possibly can to support Olu as well. We’ll see how this bowl game plays out, you know, with his timeline.”
In the wake of Fashanu’s injury Penn State has leaned on freshman Drew Shelton at left tackle, a move that burned Shelton’s redshirt season.
“For the last three years, I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to be around a group of extremely hardworking individuals,” Fashanu wrote on Twitter last week. “Everyone in this program has pushed me to become a better football player, and more importantly, a better man. Although playing in the NFL is a goal of mine, there is still more that I want to achieve personally and collectively as a program. After several conversations with my parents and coaches, I will be returning to Penn State for the 2023 season.”
