For Penn State, Safeguarding Olu Fashanu Is a Training Camp Priority
Penn State turns toward the final week of training camp clear-eyed in handling its star offensive lineman, evaluating potential starters at several positions and believing it has two starters at running back. As camp nears its closing stretch, here's a look at where the Lions stand two weeks before opening night against West Virginia.
Protecting their franchise left tackle
James Franklin hasn't had an offensive lineman as NFL ready as Olu Fashanu. The left tackle, among six Lions named to Bruce Feldman's "Freaks List," would have been a 2023 first-round pick had he left Penn State early. That Fashanu chose to return gives the Lions a left tackle who did not allow a sack last season. That's a player to protect, so Fashanu has taken limited live reps during training camp and did not participate in the open-practice scrimmage Aug. 12.
"You really don’t make the modifications like we’re making with Olu unless the guy is just truly, truly, truly a proven commodity," Franklin said.
Still, there's a delicate line to follow. Fashanu was a first-year starter last season who missed five starts due to an injury. Even as a Walter Camp second-team All-American, Fashanu still requires more situational reps, particularly with a first-year starting quarterback. So Franklin quickly noted that Fashanu gets significant work during one-on-one and position periods. In fact, Franklin said he's getting "thousands of reps."
"He’s still developing, he’s still getting better," Franklin said. "From everything I know and [people I] talked to, he’s being projected as a first-rounder. We want to do everything we can to help him become a top-10 pick, which I think he is in terms of not only a player but a franchise guy in terms of how he goes about his business. The guy wants to be great in everything he does. He wants more reps. He’s fighting with us for more reps. He’s going about it the right way and he’s practicing his tail off."
Two TB1s?
Nicholas Singleton is the game-breaking back of Penn State's offense, leading the team with 20 plays of 20-plus yards last season (scoring touchdowns on nine of them). Still, Kaytron Allen is much more than a complementary back. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and, while not the home-run threat Singleton is, can cut through defenses for sizable gains.
Now, Allen is even more of a physical threat. Having played at around 205 pound last season, Allen checks in this year at 225 with steel-cabled legs and a barrelled upper body. He already was difficult to bring down, having lost just 15 yards on 167 carries last season and bulldozing his way to 10 touchdowns. Allen is even more powerful this season.
"We think we've got two No. 1 backs," Franklin said. "That's how we treat them internally. ... They’re really good complementary pieces, because, although they’re both big backs, they have different running styles. I think real football people nationally know all about [Allen]."
Another Duel at Middle Linebacker
Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King essentially shared the middle linebacker spot last season, though Elsdon started all 13 games. The position might continue in that direction this season, but King is making his move to start. Elsdon missed most of spring drills with an injury, and King has been one of the early stars of camp.
"Almost like we have at the tailback position, we’ve got two guys we think are really good on a national scale and we feel the same at linebacker," Franklin said. "With Kobe being younger than Elsdon in terms of eligibility, all those reps he got this spring were really beneficial. ... [King is] moving well, confident, he knows the defense and has command of the defense. And he's playing fast and aggressive because of his confidence in himself and the defense."
Noteworthy
Offensive guard Landon Tengwall has been dealing with some "bumps and bruises" in camp. Tengwall missed eight games last season with an injury.
Tight end Khalil Dinkins has asserted himself through spring and summer as the clear No. 3 in the rotation with Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren. Teammates have called Dinkins one of the offense's better blockers, which gives offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich freedom to deploy his three tight-end package again.
The kicking competition rolls on between redshirt sophomore Sander Sahaydak and Columbia transfer Alex Felkins. This duel might extend into the season.
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