At Big Ten Media Day, James Franklin made it a point to bring up Olu Fashanu, even though he’s no longer on campus. That should tell you everything you need to know about the kind of impact the former All-American left behind.
Fashanu is now with the New York Jets after being taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but according to Franklin, his influence inside the Penn State locker room hasn’t faded. Not even a little. Franklin said that Olu’s professionalism, preparation habits, and calm but confident leadership left a blueprint that the current offensive line room is still following.
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Franklin talked about how Olu raised the bar when it came to accountability. He didn’t just dominate on the field. He set the tone in meetings, during film, and in practice. Franklin said young guys in that room watched how Olu handled every single rep like it mattered. Now those same younger linemen are veterans themselves, and they are carrying that same mindset.
The offensive line has often been the group Penn State fans have questioned the most in recent years. But now? It might be one of the more consistent and mature units on the team. Franklin credited that shift to leaders like Olu, and said that kind of leadership doesn’t just disappear when someone leaves for the league.
Right now, Penn State returns experience across the line, including interior guys who played key snaps last year. Franklin said these players still reference Olu in film sessions, talk about what he would’ve done on certain plays, and hold each other to the level he operated at. That kind of impact is rare.
He also mentioned that the culture inside the offensive line room is tight. Guys know they are not going to be in the headlines every week, but they take pride in the dirty work. Franklin said that mindset was contagious when Olu was around, and it’s still part of the identity now.
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There is also something to be said about recruiting. Franklin noted that younger linemen wanted to come play at Penn State in part because of Fashanu’s story. A guy who stuck with the program, developed over time, didn’t chase clout, and still became a first-round pick. That speaks volumes about what the staff is building in the trenches.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Olu Fashanu’s legacy still guiding Penn State’s offensive line in 2025
