From Left to Right Across The Offensive Line: Drew Shelton Providing Added Flexibility

When consensus first-round pick Olu Fashanu went down with an injury last season, true freshman offensive tackle Drew Shelton stepped in. Shelton started the final five games of Penn State’s season, including the Rose Bowl, in the spot that was vacated when the 6-foot-6, 317-pound left tackle went down.

Shelton appeared in seven contests in 2022, and he felt that the early playing time was an important factor in establishing his place on the roster.

“Just going out there and playing is good, just setting a baseline of what I want to do with my time here,” Shelton said. “Just building off that this year and trying to get better every day and each week.”

After the Nittany Lions’ 35-21 win over Utah in the Rose Bowl, the Downingtown, Pennsylvania native looked to be the next man up at left tackle when this season rolled around, but Fashanu returned to the blue and white to finish what he started both on the field and in the classroom.

This left Shelton without a spot in Phil Trautwein’s starting five, but James Franklin indicated that just because his name isn’t announced amongst the starters doesn’t mean he isn’t one.

“How you talk about it is different than how we talk about it and hopefully how he sees himself,” Franklin said of his second-year lineman’s role. “I hope he views himself as a starter and is preparing as a starter.”

Preparation was something that Shelton himself said he wasn’t great at when he first arrived on campus last summer. With the help of the guys in front of him, such as Fashanu, the former four-star prospect has revamped how he gets ready for the next opponent.

“We’re trying to pick up on certain different tendencies. What a D-Ends favorite move is, what their favorite pass rush move is, how they play in the run game, how they play against double teams,” Shelton said. “Little stuff like that just to give us kind of that extra edge…trying to pinpoint things that give us the extra advantage on game day.”

While that new form of prep hasn’t resulted in a starter for Shelton just yet, the 6-foot-5, 306-pound lineman has appeared in all five games for Penn State. Frequently, Shelton replaces Fashanu as one of the first off the bench for the Nittany Lions, but it’s the attitude and approach he has while still on the sideline that benefits not only him but the unit as a whole.

“I’m really just trying to take it on the chin and embrace my role. Here to help,” Shelton said. “Not necessarily getting those starting reps, but help Olu and help Caden and the whole line and be like an extra set of eyes on the sideline.”

Not only is the former No. 3 prospect in the state embracing his new role, but he’s also embracing a challenge as he looks to expand that role by becoming more versatile. Shelton has been working on playing right tackle, which he said has been a big change both physically and mentally.

“You gotta flip everything in your head, the whole playbook. You gotta know what to do on the play side and the backside,” Shelton said. “…It’s been a lot of mental adjustment as well as the physical adjustment…learning to kick set and pass protect and everything from the ride side. It’s just really different.”

Franklin had said earlier in the season that those adjustments weren’t coming easy for Shelton, but seven weeks into the season, Shelton’s way of attacking the challenge has earned him trust throughout the program.

“That transition going from the left side to the right side was hard on him, but he’s adjusted really well,” Franklin said. “I think our coaches and his teammates have a lot of confidence in his ability to do it. He’s approached it the right way. He’s gotten bigger and stronger.”

With starting left guard J.B. Nelson’s availability in question, starting right tackle Caeden Wallace has been taking reps at the guard position. If Wallace was to see some time at the guard position, Shelton could soon find himself playing right tackle in-game action.

“I’m ready and willing. I prepared for it,” Shelton said. “Just someone that’s going to get the job done when my number’s called.”

Justin Ciavolella is a third-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jtc5751@psu.edu or justinciavolella@gmail.com.