2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Olu Fashanu (OT – Penn State)

With being more than halfway through the College Football season, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Olu Fashanu.

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2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Olu Fashanu (OT – Penn State)

Olu Fashanu (OT – Penn State)

6-foot-6 | 319 pounds

Background:

Four-star prospect who redshirted in 2020, then started the team’s bowl game the following year but was otherwise a reserve, appearing in nine games. Took over as the team’s starting left tackle this past season, stepping right in and putting together a strong season in which he did not allow a sack over eight games (542 snaps) before his season ended early due to injury.

Positives:

Still only 20 years old with a very favorable trajectory, taking over a difficult position in a tough conference and showing polish beyond his years. Gargantuan and has added bulk since last year. Fundamentally sound pass sets with sufficient width, good knee bend, and a straight back. Nice choppy steps to get depth and protect the edge. Uses his length to his advantage, firing out punches that can jolt defenders and getting good extension to keep defenders out of his pads.

Has a thick lower body and stable anchor, which he drops early; usually stonewalls bull-rushers at the line. Pretty solid pivot to defend against inside moves. Shows a good understanding of positioning in the run game to effectively wall off opponents. Attacks the outside shoulder and seals. Active with his hands to reset, showing a strong grip and good effort to sustain through the whistle. Works hard to get out in space and lead the way in the screen game, doing a pretty good job of engaging opponents.

More athletic in space than his size would indicate, was regularly asked to pull to the left or climb to the second level. Doesn’t need everything to go right on a snap to get the job done.

Negatives:

More workmanlike than nasty; would like to see a player with his physical tools dominate opponents more consistently. Relies on his anchor, positioning, and grip strength to wall off in the run game, but plays with a relatively high pad level and doesn’t have active feet after engaging to drive opponents off of a spot. Overall quickness and flexibility are closer to adequate. Hand placement could use some polish; has a tendency to let them slip a little bit outside. Can be a little bit of a leaner at times. Tends to drop his head and bend at the waist when defending against speed rushers from wide alignments.

Summary:

As a massive, technically sound left tackle with an incredible anchor, a solid work rate, and impressive snap-to-snap consistency, should draw early interest from pro teams, particularly because he’s so advanced for his age. At this point, is more impressive in pass protection than in the run game, but with some more glass in his diet, could develop into a dominant run blocker as well. Currently looks like the favorite to be the top offensive lineman off the board, and may have been last year as well, had he declared.

Projection: Round 1