In April, after the Jets chosen him eleventh total out of Penn State, basic supervisor Joe Douglas mentioned they deliberate to maintain Olu Fashanu strictly at left sort out.
So much has modified for the Jets over the last six months.
Due to accidents on the offensive line, Fashanu performed three totally different offensive line positions throughout his rookie marketing campaign, two of which he had by no means performed earlier than.
“It’s definitely been a new experience,” Fashanu mentioned. “Simply going from primarily taking part in only one place to now with the ability to play three totally different positions, it’s undoubtedly an expertise. I’m simply taking it daily.
“It kind of been the next man up mentality that you have to have in the NFL,” Fashanu mentioned. “Clearly, final week, I used to be working lots at guard and sort out, however I used to be locked in on no matter place I needed to play.
“It undoubtedly felt a bit totally different at left sort out, however that’s the place I’ve been taking part in for many of my life up till I obtained right here. It was all pure on the finish of the day.
This yr was alleged to be Fashanu’s redshirt season after the Jets signed Tyron Smith to a one-year contract in March. Not solely has Fashanu performed left sort out, however he has additionally seen time at each proper sort out and proper guard, positions he didn’t play in any respect when he was at Penn State.
When Morgan Moses was out resulting from a knee harm he suffered in September’s win towards the Patriots, Fashanu began for him in Week 4 towards the Broncos and Week 5 towards the Vikings. Then, after Alijah Vera-Tucker suffered an ankle harm and Xavier Newman was taken to the hospital in the course of the Jets’ loss to the Steelers, Fashanu was compelled to play at proper guard.
Fashanu then practiced all final week at proper guard as a result of Vera-Tucker’s standing towards the Cardinals was in query. Vera-Tucker performed final Sunday, however Fashanu got here off the bench to play left sort out as a result of Smith suffered a neck harm and didn’t return.
Fashanu completed the sport towards Arizona with a 75.7 Professional Soccer Focus grade, the second-highest out of all of the Jets gamers in Week 10. He additionally earned an 83.7 PFF run-blocking grade.
What Fashanu is doing is unprecedented, and his teammates aren’t ignoring it. Throughout his media availability, Fashanu’s offensive line teammates cheered him on and chanted, “Olu, Olu,” and expressed their happiness at his success.
“They’ve been a huge help,” Fashanu mentioned about his teammates. “To be within the room with guys as achieved as them, that’s all you possibly can ask for as a rookie. It isn’t simply them, it’s genuinely everybody within the room.
“Everyone in the room is super helpful, Tyron, John [Simpson], Morgan, AVT [Vera-Tucker], Tip [Tippmann], all the guys. They’ve just been around me throughout this process and I’m super thankful to be in that room.”
Even Aaron Rodgers got here from his locker and smiled like a proud father, watching his son develop up proper earlier than his eyes whereas Fashanu spoke.
“The ability to take in information and go in there and execute to the best of his ability,” Moses mentioned about Fashanu. “We’ve mentioned all of it alongside, the best way he comes into the constructing as a rookie day by day and concentrates on what must be targeting and he goes on the market and tries to excellent it.
“He listens to the vets, he listens to the coaches, he’s only a well-rounded soccer participant. You may’t ask for something extra from a rookie to get thrown round at totally different positions. Beginning at proper guard, making ready at proper guard all week, then it’s like, ‘Oh, I gotta go play left sort out,’ it is likely one of the hardest issues to do.
“He doesn’t blink, he doesn’t ask questions, he just goes in and does the job to the best of his abilities. Then, he will go to the sideline, ask questions and he will take in information and that’s what you want as a rookie. Someone that’s so willing to be selfless because he’s a first-round pick and he can be like, ‘No, I play left tackle.’ But he’s like, I will do anything for the team to get on the field, and I’m going to do it to the best of my abilities, and you appreciate a guy like that.”
Fashanu might get a possibility to begin his first NFL recreation at left sort out this Sunday towards the Colts. Smith has missed the final two days of follow following his neck harm.
Throughout his 231 snaps this season at both left sort out, proper sort out, or proper guard, Fashanu hasn’t allowed a sack. If Smith is out, this might pave the best way for the Jets to begin Fashanu at left sort out shifting ahead.
The 21-year-old shall be Gang Inexperienced’s left sort out of the long run, which is why they drafted him within the first place. Smith has struggled throughout his 10 begins this season. He has allowed 5 sacks and dedicated six penalties in 592 snaps.
“This is what I’m familiar with,” Fashanu mentioned about doubtlessly beginning at left sort out towards the Colts. “It is a sense of familiarity going back to the position I played in college and high school.”
