Shelton ready to go for offensive line
PASADENA, Calif. — Penn State offensive tackle Phil Trautwein briefly struggled to find the words to best describe Drew Shelton’s freshman season.
Shelton, the former Downingtown West star, started the final four games of the regular season at left tackle for the injured Olu Fashanu and performed beyond expectations.
“It’s remarkable for a kid who’s only been here for five or six months to be able to play as a true freshman,” Trautwein said Saturday at Rose Bowl Media Day. “To do that at offensive tackle in the Big Ten? It’s pretty crazy. It’s pretty awesome.
“Hats off to him on how smart he is and how hard he’s working. He’s done a hell of a job.”
The 6-5, 296-pound Shelton might start again when the ninthranked Nittany Lions (10-2) play seventh-ranked Utah (10-3) Monday at 5 p.m. (TV-ESPN, WEEU-AM/830).
Fashanu was at Media Day and would not say whether he will return to action against the Utes after sustaining an undisclosed injury against Ohio State in October.
He had effusive praise for Shelton.
“He was awesome,” Fashanu said. “He couldn’t have done any better. I’m just so glad Drew has had the opportunity to go out and shine. Everyone on the team knows how hard of a worker Drew is. Just seeing him go out there and dominate was awesome.”
Shelton helped Penn State rush for 825 yards and nine touchdowns against Indiana, Maryland, Rutgers and Michigan State. He also did an outstanding job protecting quarterback Sean Clifford.
“Taking a lot of snaps through camp and throughout the season in practice really helped me,” Shelton said. “But I would say probably getting into that first start (at Indiana), getting into those first couple of games helped a lot.
“I felt comfortable probably around the middle of the Indiana game. It’s just playing ball.”
Shelton was a three-year letterman for coach Mike Milano and a two-time team captain at Downingtown West. He accepted an invitation to play in the Under Armour All-American Game and was a consensus four-star prospect.
He also played basketball at Downingtown West and started in a loss to Reading High in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs.
“You know, Coach (James) Franklin always stresses to prepare like you’re the starter,” Shelton said. “I really feel like I’ve been trying to do that all year. Learning from guys like Olu and Caedan (Wallace) and Bryce (Effner) and Jimmy (Christ) and Juice (Scruggs), just taking in what they got to say.
“I would be lying to you if I said I wasn’t nervous. But I feel like it was actually minimal. I feel that having all those resources, I was able to keep my nerves to a minimum.”
With Fashanu saying he will return next season, Shelton might be moved to right tackle, which doesn’t matter to him. He’s received much advice from Fashanu.
“I ask him questions every day, whether he’s out there or not,” Shelton said. “I’m just trying to see how he would take it and to see what he would do with it. I’m just trying to learn from him really, because, I mean, you see the level of play that he’s been at.
“I was always just trying to learn from him and be ready for when it’s my turn.”