When the Jets selected Olu Fashanu with the 11th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, it was with an eye to the future. 

One of the most promising tackles in college football, Fashanu had finished his final year at Penn State without allowing a sack in over 700 pass-blocking snaps. 

Over the course of three years (two as a starter), Fashanu had quickly become one of the premier left tackles in the Big Ten Conference. 

Not only had he not allowed a single sack, but he’d only allowed 17 pressures in total; that’s a pressure every 43 snaps. Considering Penn State averaged 32 passes a game his senior season, he allowed under one pressure per game. 

He also made strides as a senior in his run-blocking, with PFF grading him at 70.5, considerably better than the 59.4 he achieved his first year as a starter back in 2022. 

Coming out of college, Penn State head coach James Franklin called him a “high production, low maintenance” player. 

The plan for Fashanu in year one was to sit and learn. 

The Jets had traded for one of their former players and a respected veteran in Morgan Moses to play right tackle and signed All-Pro Tyron Smith to protect Aaron Rodgers’ blindside. 

It was the perfect environment for a young tackle to come in, learn, watch and develop. With Tyron Smith getting veteran rest days, Fashanu was also guaranteed reps with the starters in practice.

For everything that he achieved in college: his numbers, the Consensus All-American selection, Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten – all achieved in 2023 – there was something he had never done. 

Play offensive guard. 

With his size, strength and length he was an offensive tackle, and he’s still going to be an offensive tackle going forward. But when the injuries started to mount up against the Houston Texans last Thursday, he needed to step up and get comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

“Coach [Keith] Carter just told me, ‘Hey, if the opportunity comes, you’re going to go in at guard,’” Fashanu said. “At first I was like, ‘Oh, OK. Let’s go.’ It helps that I have such a great center in [Joe Tippmann] and such a great tackle that has a ton of experience like Morgan [Moses] does. So, I always knew I was going to be in good hands playing with those guys.”

Fashanu came into the game and performed at the highest of high levels. In 37 snaps with the Jets mounting a comeback with three touchdown drives over 70 yards, Fashanu didn’t allow a sack, allowed just 2 pressures and helped the Jets run the ball to set up the pass. 

Learning a new position on the fly can’t be understated, not when it’s at the highest standard against an opponent who came in at 6-2. 

Fashanu had never taken a snap at guard in High School, in College or in the NFL. In training camp he worked at both tackle spots but not inside. 

Working inside is a lot different to working as a tackle. I always remember Chargers tackle/guard Jamaree Salyer speaking about the difference between the positions after he was asked to play tackle after being drafted as a guard. He said things happen faster on the inside and unlike tackle where you’re blocking the same guy for the majority of the game, guards have to be aware of stunts, twists, linebackers, safeties. 

He ended by stating that although you play faster at tackle, you have to think much faster at guard. That’s not easy as a rookie, it’s certainly not easy as a rookie who’s never played that position before. 

The fact that Fashanu came in and not only held his own but excelled is something that we need to celebrate, and it was something that caught the eye of his head coach, quarterback and linemate Max Mitchell:

“[Fashanu] freaking balled the hell out,” OL Max Mitchell said after the Houston game. “I couldn’t be more proud of the dude. He’s been working his tail off. He has taken zero guard reps so then to get thrown into [his] first today, I think he was a little overwhelmed with how much information we were giving him, but I mean he’s a stud. He played lights out.”

Having a little versatility to your game is never a bad thing. The hope is that John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker will be available for this weekend’s game, but if they’re not… the Jets know that they can turn to their big offensive tackle and he’ll do a job. 

“I just learned that this is the nature of the league,” Fashanu said. “It is a next man up mentality. You have always got to be dialed in and locked in, making sure that whenever your number is called that you’re ready to contribute.”