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Which Penn State 2024 NFL Draft pick needs to have a big season in 2025?: Newsstand

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel06/23/25GregPickel
NFL: New York Jets Minicamp
New York Jets offensive tackle Olu Fashanu (74) participates in a drill with center Gus Hartwig (63) during minicamp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. (Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images)

Penn State news, notes, and updates for June 23 include a list of 2024 NFL Draft picks who must take a big step forward in 2025, and it includes a former Nittany Lion. That leads today’s newsstand.

Nick Baumgardner, who is a senior pro football writer and NFL Draft analyst for The Athletic, lists New York Jets offensive lineman Olu Fashanu along with Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., and others as second-year players who, in part because of where they were picked, need to perform either better or more this year. Fashanu gets something of a break for his first season in The Big Apple, as the Jets said from the start that they would not rush him to the field. But, he did ultimately start some, especially later in the year before a foot injury ended his season early.

“The Jets got Fashanu on the field at right tackle, right guard and left tackle last season — he started at right tackle in Weeks 4 and 5, then moved to the left in Weeks 11-16,” Baumgardner writes. “His season ended early because of plantar fasciitis, but the results were generally encouraging. After struggling during the first half of the season, Fashanu settled in and seemed to improve each week during his five-start streak late in the year.

“He’s expected to be the Jets’ full-time left tackle during Aaron Glenn’s first season. If he can prove worthy of his lofty draft slot, it’ll be massive for the new regime in New York.”

You can read the full story here.

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Inside Lasch: Who should Penn State fans focus on next as dominos start to fall in 2026 class?: Snyder, BWI

The Penn State-Notre Dame Football Rivalry Is Back: Wogenrich, SI

Quote of the day

“When I was younger, I wasn’t really into football that much. But once I started getting more into college football, Penn State definitely emerged as my team.

“So, just going on this visit and being offered by Coach [James] Franklin really meant a lot. Of course, it’s still early in my process. So, I don’t want to lean too much on that, but it definitely meant a lot getting an offer from my team.”

Class of 2027 recruit Terrance Smith to BWI.

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