Penn State 2023 early look: Olu Fashanu, Drew Shelton returning after strong season at tackle

When James Franklin became Penn State’s coach in 2014, the Nittany Lions’ offensive line was a major problem. PSU struggled to match up with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State at the line of scrimmage.

But as Franklin begins his 10th season in State College, it’s clear the Lions have made big strides at all five starting spots.

PSU has some talented tackle prospects returning in 2023, and one of them could be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Top returnees: Olu Fashanu, Drew Shelton, Caedan Wallace, JB Nelson, Jimmy Christ

Fashanu entered 2022 having made just one start at left tackle, but he was a dominant performer through eight games before his season was cut short because of an undisclosed injury. Fashanu did not allow a sack in 2022, and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Fashanu as his No. 5 overall prospect on his list of college football’s top 50 players at midseason.

“He’s shown enough on film to convince me that this guy is the best tackle prospect in the country,” Brugler said of Fashanu in November.

Fashanu was named second-team All-Big Ten by the conference’s coaches.

If there was a silver lining to Fashanu’s injury, it involved the development of true freshman Drew Shelton over the final five games. Originally ticketed for a redshirt, the 6-foot-5, 296-pound Shelton made five starts at left tackle and showed steady improvement. He could be headed to right tackle in 2023.

Wallace, a starter at Penn State at right tackle since the early stages of the 2020 season, missed time during the second half of the 2022 season with an undisclosed injury. He made seven starts in 2022 and also played in the Rose Bowl win over Utah.

Christ and Nelson are two other names to remember, and Nelson, a JUCO transfer from Lackawanna entering his second season at Penn State, can also play guard.

Moving on: Bryce Effner

Effner announced earlier this month he will not return to State College. He had one year of eligibility left, and Effner started at right tackle when Wallace was injured.

Player to watch: Shelton

One of the highest-rated recruits in Franklin’s prized 2022 class, Shelton is expected to compete with Wallace for the starting right tackle spot. It will be interesting to see what the former Downingtown West star can do after spending this offseason working with position coach Phil Trautwein and the Lions’ strength and conditioning staff.

2023 signees: J’Ven Williams, Alex Birchmeier, Anthony Donkoh

Penn State added three talented big bodies led by Williams, a five-star recruit from Wyomissing. It’s unclear what the position plan is for each of the true freshmen, but a couple of them could be part of the tackle depth chart. All three enrolled early.