Drew Shelton watched and listened to Olu Fashanu for two seasons as his primary backup.
Shelton, the former Downingtown West star, hopes to apply that accumulated knowledge this season as Penn State’s probable starter at left tackle.
“Olu taught me a lot about football behind the scenes,” he said. “We’re obviously very different players, so what works for him might not necessarily work for me. He taught me a lot about preparation, like how to watch film and what to look for in a defensive lineman.
“That’s been very impactful for me.”
Shelton started the final five games of the 2022 season as a freshman in place of the injured Fashanu and then last year’s Peach Bowl after the All-American opted out.
After undergoing surgery in the winter, Shelton’s ready to protect quarterback Drew Allar’s blind side and to pass on the lessons he’s learned to former Wyomissing standout J’ven Williams, who likely will play behind him.
“Drew teaches me a whole bunch of stuff,” Williams said. “He helps me with my technique, but he’ll also help me mentally. There’ll be times when I’m super tired and he’ll say, ‘You gotta keep pushing because these practices make the best players.’
“I’m competing with him, but he’s also a mentor because he has a lot more knowledge than me. I’m picking his brain as much as I can.”
Shelton and Williams are part of a Penn State offensive line trying to make up for the loss of Fashanu, a first-round pick by the New York Jets; right tackle Caedan Wallace, a third-round choice by the New England Patriots; and center Hunter Nourzad, a fifth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Since Phil Trautwein arrived as offensive line coach in 2020, eight Lions blockers have been drafted. He was asked if it’s difficult to replace three starters.
“Not with the depth that we have,” he said. “If we had nobody, it would be awful. I think we have the depth that helps us to be able to still function and still be one of the best O-lines in the country.”
Right guard Sal Wormley, who’s in his third year as a starter, has the most experience. Vega Ioane or JB Nelson, who alternated last season, will be at left guard. Fifth-year senior Nick Dawkins is the top candidate to succeed Nourzad.
The most unsettled position is right tackle, where former Warwick star Nolan Rucci, Anthony Donkoh, Nelson or Williams could wind up winning the job.
Williams has received work on the left and right side so far during preseason camp. He spent almost all of spring practice at left tackle because Shelton was recovering from his upper-body surgery.
He was rated a five-star prospect by On3 and 247Sports in the 2023 recruiting class and was considered one of the top 25 prospects in the country overall.
“I’m not the same guy I was when I first got here,” Williams said. “I was 17. I’m 18 now and I turn 19 later this month. I feel like I’ve matured mentally and physically. My weight is up (312). I’m still running the same numbers on the field. It feels really good, like I’ve accomplished something.”
Williams has focused on improving his pass blocking, something he didn’t do often in Wyomissing’s ground-oriented offense.
“He’s getting better,” Trautwein said. “When he is in the game, we have to use his strength, which is pulling and getting him to move. He’s a great puller who can run. He just has to keep working on his pass set, his technique and his fundamentals.”
Shelton likes what he’s seeing from Williams.
“Watching J’ven grow up as a football player has been very impressive,” Shelton said. “We have a long way to go, but he’s doing a lot of good things right now.”
Shelton’s happy to be on the field after missing spring practice.
“Coaches, trainers and the medical staff have done a great job helping me get back to this moment,” he said. “I put in a lot of work this summer. I feel really good.”
Penn State has had success at left tackle over the last three seasons. Rasheed Walker, who’s in his third season with the Green Bay Packers, mentored Fashanu; Fashanu guided Shelton; and now Shelton’s advising Williams, who coach James Franklin said in June should get playing time this season.
“I’ve been hearing that a lot,” Williams said. “I’m competing for more time on the field than I had last year. I’m just really trying to put the program in the best position to win as many games as we can.
“It’s definitely exciting. I wouldn’t say it’s unexpected. I expected it to play out this way. I’m trying to get better every single day.”
Source: Berkshire mont