Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu earns AP first-team All-American honors

Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu has made another All-American team. The Nittany Lions junior and future first-round NFL Draft pick is a first-team All-American by The Associated Press. The outlet announced its team on Monday. Fashanu is a projected top-10 pick in next year’s pro selection process. But, he has not yet declared for it nor shared his intentions to play or not in the Peach Bowl. The expectation is that he will, however, to cap his time in blue and white.

Fashanu is also a first-team Walter Camp All-American. And, he was a first-team selection by CBS Sports, as well. He also was a second-team FWAA choice.

“I don’t really pay attention to the media stuff,” Fashanu said earlier this year when asked about the NFL Draft. “I just know for myself that, if I spend too much time concerning myself with the opinions of people outside of Lasch, it could potentially be something to distract me. So, I think a huge part of that is just not paying attention to anything like that. I am present-minded and just focused on the matchup ahead. I think that definitely helped during the season. With us having a game every week, it gave me another reason to not pay attention to what anyone says on Twitter or Instagram, but for me to just focus on my opponent. I think that definitely helped a lot.”

Said Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein:

“He’s playing at a high level, [and] he’s working on the things he needs to work on: His punch, anchor, footwork, and pad level. He’s playing really consistently and has continued to get better and better. That’s his mindset, to show everyone he can do that week after week.”

In addition to Fashanu, edge rusher Chop Robinson also earned third-team honors from the Associated Press.

Penn State coach James Franklin talks opt outs

Unless Fashanu makes an announcement between now and Dec. 30, he is expected to play in Penn State’s bowl game opposite Ole Miss. The No. 10 Nittany Lions (10-2) meet the 11th-raned Rebels (10-2) in the Peach Bowl, which kicks off at 12 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.

On Monday, Lions coach James Franklin discussed how his team has gone about handling game plans for top players who choose to play but are also likely headed to the NFL.

“We’re going to work with these guys as well, and we’ve done that really since I’ve been here. I remember we had a specific plan for Saquon Barkley, who was going to be maybe the number one pick in the draft and ended up falling all the way to number two. But there was conversations with Saquon and his family about how we were going to manage the practices, how we were going to manage the game, and all those types of things. And I think what you’d like to do in a lot of ways is, I’m still a big believer that a game like this, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and against this type of opponent, Ole Miss and what Lane [Kiffin] has built there, these games are about creating value for the student-athletes.

“And, I still believe that this game, for most of them, creates an opportunity. Obviously, for us to finish this thing as a family and as a team, represent Penn State one more time, but also create more value for themselves. You go out and have a great Peach Bowl game in that type of venue, in that setting, against this type of opponent on national television, I think it can really help the student-athlete and what they’re trying to do for their future in the NFL as well. That has to be factored into all of this.”