Penn State football: OL Olu Fashanu set to start in Outback Bowl
Offensive lineman Olu Fashanu is set to start for Penn State Nittany Lions football against Arkansas in Saturday’s Outback Bowl, according to James Franklin.
Fashanu played sparingly in the regular season, appearing in three games and playing 21 snaps at left tackle.
“He better be,” Franklin said when asked if Fashanu was ready to start at left tackle.
Starting left tackle Rasheed Walker has not been spotted at Penn State’s open practices. He has yet to release a statement regarding his future.
The On3 Consensus rated Fashanu, a redshirt freshman, as a four-star prospect in the Class of 2020.
Franklin indicated that Fashanu was going to start earlier in the season, but missed out on the chance due to injury. True freshman Landon Tengwall stepped up to do so instead.
“We’ve been preparing and planning, and like I said, Olu was going to start earlier in the year and now we’re in a position where obviously he’s got to do it on Saturday,” Franklin said. “We have a lot of faith and confidence in him. It’s going to be exciting to watch him go out and play. He’s had a really good week of practice.”
Penn State DT Derrick Tangelo opts out
Penn State has added a fifth starter on defense to opt out of the Outback Bowl.
Announced Wednesday morning, transfer defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo said he’d finished his career at Penn State and wouldn’t play on Saturday against Arkansas.
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“To the best fans in college football, thank you for cheering and supporting me in every game. It was an electric environment every time in Beaver Stadium with the 107K bringing the energy play in and play out. You guys will always be with me and always appreciate you. Thank you Nittany Nation!
“With that being said, I will be forgoing the bowl game and I will he preparing myself for the 2022 NFL Draft. I am excited to see what the future holds for me and my family.”
The news comes amid a rash of opt-outs for the Nittany Lions ahead of the bowl game. Joining receiver Jahan Dotson, Penn State has also seen linebackers Ellis Brooks and Brandon Smith, safety Jaquan Brisker, and defensive end Arnold Ebiketie announce that they will not play against the Razorbacks.
In the wake of so many absences, Penn State interim defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter stressed this week that young players are eager for opportunities that will be provided. And, further, for the Nittany Lions hoping to make a mark with increased opportunity, the expectations will hold for this game.
“Everybody wants to play,” Poindexter said. “A lot of guys who probably didn’t play as much as they wanted to in the regular season, here’s their chance to play. We got a standard for how we play defense here, and we expect them to play the way we’re used to playing.”
