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Penn State Football: The three biggest surprises from this season

By Alec Whitaker

Oct 22, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin celebrates with running back Nicholas Singleton (10) after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Minnesota 45-17. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin celebrates with running back Nicholas Singleton (10) after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Minnesota 45-17. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu #74. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Offensive lineman Olumuyiwa Fashanu #74. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

1. Olu Fashanu and the offensive line

Everyone hoped that the Penn State offensive line would take a step forward this year, and it did.

This unit, led by left tackle Olu Fashanu, played better than most expected this season. The group allowed 18 sacks this season, not an elite number, but good enough to be tied for No. 34 in the nation. Keep in mind, Penn State blew out a lot of teams at the end of the season and both backup offensive linemen and quarterbacks were in, those numbers count towards that sack total.

When it mattered, the offensive line held up the majority of the time.

There was also vast improvement in the run game, the weakest link on Penn State’s team in 2021.

Penn State ran for 182 yards per game this season, with an average of 4.8 yards per carry. That is an improvement from the averages of the 107.8 yards and 3.2 yards per carry that the Nittany Lions average per game last year.

The addition of the two stud running backs, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, played a role, but so did the offensive line.

Finally, did anyone think Olu Fashanu would finish the season as a projected first round draft pick?

The left tackle looked solid in his first action at the end of last season in the Outback Bowl, but he improved even more over the offseason and began to receive a ton of draft hype. Fashanu did not allow a sack this season.

If there’s one thing more surprising than Fashanu’s play, it’s the fact that he’s coming back to Penn State next season, despite being draft eligible.

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