Olu Fashanu suffers thigh injury, ends day at NFL Combine

Bad news has hit potential first-round draft pick Olu Fashanu, who suffered an injury during the NFL Combine on Sunday.

NFL Network’s Stacey Dales spoke to the former Penn State OT after suffering the ailment, and revealed the extent of his injury on social media.

“Unfortunately Penn State’s Olu Fashanu told me he is done for the day at the combine. Told me it’s a right thigh injury. Said he should be okay by his pro day March 15,” Dales wrote on X. “Ultra competitive and an awesome guy, he’s in good spirits.”

Fashanu notably ran a 5.11-second 40-yard dash before the injury on Sunday. It’s unknown if the injury is related to the drill.

Before declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft, the former Penn State standout did not allow a sack through 365 pass-blocking snaps. After this season, he won Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors and was a consensus First Team All-Big Ten selection. He also earned a spot on the Walter Camp All-American Team as a first team selection.

Fashanu is regarded as one of the top draft-eligible prospects in this year’s NFL Draft cycle along with Notre Dame‘s Joe Alt. According to longtime ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest 2024 mock draft, both cracked the early first round. Kiper Jr. recently compared the two top-rated offensive linemen in this year’s draft class.

“This was a battle royale and it still will be between Fashanu and Joe Alt from Notre Dame. Who is the best offensive tackle, the best left tackle in this draft?” Kiper asked, via On3’s Kaiden Smith. “Thought it would be Olu and now Joe Alt may be slightly ahead, but this is gonna go all the way down to the wire. This is one of those positional battles that’s gonna be fun to see how it all plays out and who of these two is the first offensive tackle, the first bookend off the board.”

Whether Fashanu or Alt ends up being the first offensive tackle off the board next month remains to be seen. For now, Fashanu will be more focused on healing his injury and getting himself ready for his Pro Day in less than two weeks.

By the time the NFL Draft rolls around on April 25, the injury is expected to be behind him and will be ready to hit the ground running with whichever team wants to secure his services with their first-round draft pick.