Olu Fashanu breaks down his return to Penn State

Olu Fashanu didn’t have to play another down of college football if he so chose. The Penn State offensive lineman may have made a case as one of the best prospects at his position had he entered the 2023 NFL Draft.

However, Fashanu chose to return to play for the Nittany Lions as a junior in University Park. As he told On3’s Andy Staples at Big Ten Media Days, his relationship with the school as well as his personal opportunities on and off the field played a major factor and, in the end, were too much for him to pass up by leaving for the pros.

“I mean that decision to come back? Just in general with Penn State, they’ve been so great to my family and I for these last three years,” Fashanu said.

“Going into this year with having the opportunity to graduate a semester early with a degree in supply chain? Combined with the fact to just have another opportunity to go suit up with my brothers for one more time? That made that decision to come back a lot easier than most would expect,” explained Fashanu.

Fashanu was Penn State’s starting left tackle in eight games last season. He was highly efficient in his spot too as he didn’t allow a sack in any of his snaps when pass blocking. That helped him earn All-American and All-Big Ten love from across the country, the Dick Maginnis Memorial Award as the team’s outstanding offensive lineman, and NFL Draft buzz.

Still, a diploma and more success as a Nittany Lion were too much to ignore for Fashanu. He has some final boxes to check off his list in his fourth year at Penn State before going pro and, based on what he told Staples, he has every intention of knocking them all off before he departs.

More on Fashanu returning to Penn State

One of the biggest offseason additions for Penn State didn’t come from the recruiting ranks or the transfer portal. Instead, Olu Fashanu‘s decision to return for another year helped bolster the Nittany Lion’s offensive outlook considerably.

Fashanu is an anchor on one side, and he should make life easier on first-year starting quarterback Drew Allar.

Importantly, Fashanu said he feels better than ever after entertaining some self-doubt a year ago. That’s a good place to be in now, no longer worried about it.

“I would say last year I had high expectations for myself. But the pressure did come with that and it would affect me mentally. Just a lot of self-doubt would creep in,” Fashanu explained. “But this offseason I’ve done a lot of work with myself mentally with where I’m at and how far I’ve come since I was at Penn State. So going into the season, even though I have high expectations, I don’t really feel any pressure.”

In the end, it was his comfort level with a return to Penn State and the existing coaching staff that made him want to come back and do it one more time before collecting a (likely very large) NFL paycheck.

“With the process of coming back? It came down to the fact that, over these last three years, it’s been such a great time here at Penn State,” Fashanu said. “Coach Franklin and his staff have been great to my family and myself. So having another opportunity to come back to suit up with all my brothers one more time? Combine that with the fact that I had the opportunity to graduate early? Those two choices made everything a lot easier.”