Fashanu a ‘game-time decision’ in Rose Bowl
PASADENA, Calif. — Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu’s availability for Monday’s Rose Bowl will be a “game-time decision,” coach James Franklin said Sunday.
Fashanu, a first-year starter who has blossomed into one of the top tackles in the country, sustained an undisclosed injury in October against Ohio State and missed the final four games of the regular season.
“We’ve had conversations with him and his family,” Franklin said. “Part of Olu’s decision to come back also was about him being physically ready to play but also mentally ready to play. He does not want to rush back from this injury.”
Fashanu was noncommittal about his Rose Bowl status during Penn State’s Media Day on Saturday. He also explained why he decided to return to the Nittany Lions next season, even though he has been projected as a first-round draft pick.
“There’s a multitude of reasons why I wanted to come back,” he said. “With the team that we’ll have next year, I think we can achieve greater things. I want an opportunity to be a part of that.
“Academics also played a huge part because I’ll be able to graduate and start my master’s degree (work).”
Hard work pays off for Reading High grad: Trace Brown almost had to pinch himself Saturday while he sat with his Penn State football teammates a few hundred yards from Rose Bowl Stadium.
“Hard work paid off,” Brown said. “Now I’m here at the Rose Bowl. It’s something I grew up watching. I remember Saquon Barkley had a crazy game against USC and now I’m here six years later.”
The 6-0, 157-pound freshman chose to enroll at Penn State as a preferred walk-on and is listed as a safety. He has not seen game action yet.
“My first year has been amazing,” he said. “It’s been a journey, a long journey, but it’s been fun.”
Brown began his high school career at Reading High and finished it at Berks Catholic, where he was named to the Pa. Football News Class 4A All-State Team as a linebacker in 2021 and to the Berks Football League Section 1 second team.
As a senior, he made 77 tackles for the Saints, who reached the District 3 Class 4A semifinals. He also had seven tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
He caught 11 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown as a wide receiver.
Brown has yet to declare a major, but he’s considering a business path.
He plans to return to Penn State next season.
“I want to be able to get a little bit of playing time, nothing crazy like starting,” he said about the 2023 season. “I want to be able to get bigger, stronger and faster and get some minutes.”
Lee update: Penn State running back Keyvone Lee missed the final six games of the regular season with an undisclosed injury, but he and Franklin said he will play Monday against Utah.
“I can’t wait,” Lee said Saturday. “I haven’t been on the field with my brothers in a long time. I just can’t wait for that moment.”
While he was out, freshmen Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen split carries and helped improve the Lions’ running game. Lee has 25 carries for 94 yards and three catches for 23 yards and the game-winning touchdown at Purdue.
“Keyvone will be available,” Franklin said Sunday. “He’s been out for a number of weeks, so we’ll see how that rotation will go. Those two running backs (Singleton and Allen) have played really well.
“But having Keyvone available is really, really important. He’s practiced extremely well, so that’s been great.”