Drew Shelton makes strides on, off field in Penn State debut

Penn State football true freshman offensive lineman Drew Shelton arrived into the program determined to make a mark as soon as possible. An On3 Consensus four-star prospect, ranked No. 131 nationally and No. 10 among tackle prospects, the Downingtown, Pa., product had the credentials to do so.

But, at a position unique to find immediate playing potential, Shelton would need to produce differentiating qualities. 

According to offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, from the very onset of Shelton’s Penn State enrollment, he was able to do exactly that. 

“He has that pro mentality,” Trautwein said. “He has a mentality that he wants to come here and do something. He’s motivated every day. He comes to work and I love who he is and what he’s about.”

Drew Shelton’s Penn State debut

Saturday afternoon against Ohio, that process began in earnest for Shelton.

Coming on for the final two possessions of the Nittany Lions’ 46-10 win over the Bobcats at Beaver Stadium, Shelton appeared at left tackle with, effectively, Penn State’s third-team offense. So, with quarterback Christian Veilleux at the helm, his first game reps of college ball were exclusively devoted to pass protection.

No surprise to Fashanu, the performance was in line with what he’s come to expect from the newcomer to the program. Having humbled himself and embracing the challenges that come with carving out a role as a true freshman, Fashanu said all of the pieces are in place for Shelton to make an impact.

“Drew’s awesome. Great kid, great football player, great guy all-around,” Fashanu said. “He’s an extremely hard worker. He puts his head down and he just goes to work. And, he understands that he’s a freshman. There are a lot of things as a freshman that you need to work on, just with adjusting from high school to college, and he’s done a great job of doing that.”

Penn State’s offensive line acquitted itself nicely in Shelton’s first game reps. And, though the next three passes would lead to a punt, Shelton’s performance was solid.

Shelton and the Nittany Lions would get another crack at valuable game reps after an Ohio three-and-out. Returning to the field still passing the ball, Shelton again manned the left tackle position. The first two snaps of the possession were passes without pressure, including a first down to Malick Meiga. After a short run for Tyler Holzworth, Veilleux was sacked, prompting third- and fourth-down runs that bled the clock. 

Next steps

As graded by PFF, Shelton’s performance was the eighth-highest overall grade on Penn State’s offense. His pass-blocking mark finished fourth behind Fashanu, Landon Tengwall, and Juice Scruggs. And, only on run blocking was Shelton docked. There, he finished eighth on the offense with a grade of 60.8. However, he only appeared on the field for three running plays. 

Making a positive impression, progress has also been happening for the true freshman off the field. Immediately noted by Trautwein, weight room gains have been notable since he got to Penn State.

“I think he’s gained like 14 or 15 pounds and probably all muscle,” Trautwein said. “So, he’s doing great. I love who he is.”

With Penn State’s most recent roster update, those gains have taken shape. Initially listed at 278 pounds after his mid-May arrival, Shelton now checks in at 6-foot-5, 296 pounds. 

Demonstrating the potential to provide depth for Penn State, it’s development Fashanu is looking forward to seeing from Shelton.

“I’m really excited to see him play because he’s great. I can’t wait for him to show the entire world what he can do,” Fashanu said. “I truly think he’s going to be really good here, or great, honestly.”