Good news for Penn State Nittany Lions: He is back…….

Olu Fashanu, OT for Penn State, chooses not to play in the Peach Bowl.

Olu Fashanu, an offensive tackle for Penn State and a likely top-10 choice in the 2024 NFL Draft, will not

suit up for Saturday’s Peach Bowl matchup against No. 11 Ole Miss. The pregame availability report for the No. 10 Nittany Lions has Fashanu listed as out. Despite being projected as a first-round choice in 2023 mock drafts, he chose to play one more season at Penn State. On December 22, Fashanu filed for the draft, but he didn’t travel to Atlanta with his teammates for the bowl game. But he refrained from saying if he would play against the Rebels.

Standing 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 317 pounds, Fashanu was selected for the first team of the Big Ten and won the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award. This season, he has started every 12 games and hasn’t given up a sack against No. 10 Penn State. –Media at the Field Level

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In an attempt to become the first program to win all six New Year’s Six bowl games, the Penn State Nittany Lions were unable to defeat Ole Miss. In the 2023 Peach Bowl, the potent offensive of the Rebels proved to be too much for a worn-out Penn State defense. The Ole Miss receivers were predicted to be difficult to cover going into this game, and that prediction came to pass. With this one, tight end Caden Prieskorn carried the Rebels’ offense on his back and won easily. In this game, he looked every bit the NFL prospect and produced highlight-reel receptions. The inexperienced Penn State backup secondary was unable to stop the Ole Miss receivers. Let’s see how it transpired now.

Ole Miss Offense Unstoppable in Win Jaxson Dart, the quarterback for the Rebels, took a lot of hits early in the Peach Bowl. At the start of the game, the Penn State defense appeared to be playing at the top of its class, but that didn’t last long. The Ole Miss offense, led by Lane Kiffin, made crucial tweaks and exploited a Nittany Lion defense missing several important players. With three touchdown passes and 379 passing yards, Dart concluded the day 25 for 40. Across seven pass catchers, he distributed the ball with a look of confidence and control. Prieskorn had the most receptions (10 for 136 yards and two touchdowns), leading the bunch. Tre Harris and Dayton Wade were also everywhere on the field. Harris was the wide receiver leader.

Not only was the passing game working for Ole Miss but the ability to throw opened up the rushing attack. Starting running back Quinshon Judkins finished the day with 34 carries for 106 yards. He may not have finished the day with a rushing touchdown, but he did record one through the air. The Ole Miss offense finished the day with over 500 yards of total offense.