From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Penn State OT Drew Shelton.
No. 66 Drew Shelton/OT Penn State – 6050, 313 pounds (Senior)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Drew Shelton 6050/313 9 5/8 33 3/8 N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
5.16 1.79 N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
9’4″ 31 N/A
THE GOOD
– Acceptable length for the position
– Fluid and easy mover, excellent athlete
– Solid pass protector, true calling card of his game
– Quickly builds a house in pass protection, able to fire off line and get depth/width on his sets
– Sits in his stance with an easy knee bend
– Effective as a puller and in space on screens/sweeps, able to reach and hit moving targets
– Nice job washing defenders on down blocks, runs feet, and drives
– Can set his hips and wall off in the run game, and can reach/cut off on zone schemes
– Bit of positional versatility and team leaned on his athletic skillset, occasionally aligning him wide or as a wing
– Rarely penalized
– Lots of playing/starting experience
The Bad
– Thin frame without much bulk
– Severely lacking functional strength to play the position
– Struggles to hold point of attack in run game and consistently loses blocks, shows trouble sustaining
– Shows trouble with power/bull rushes, too easily rocked back
– Doesn’t have heavy hands, and his punch isn’t powerful
– Poor performances against elite talent (2025 Ohio State versus Arvell Reese)
Stats
– 2,455 career offensive snaps (2,126 LT, 241 RT, 18 LG, 55 tackle-eligible, 8 RG)
– 2025 snaps: 682 LT, 31 tackle-eligible, 3 RG, 2 LG
– PFF: Allowed 3 career sacks, 1 in 2025 on 345 pass blocks
– PFF’s No. 59 overall offensive grade among 238 qualifiers (No. 76 pass block, No. 87 run block)
– Seven career penalties (two in 2024, one in 2025)
– Played offense and defense in HS, recorded 22 tackles and 6 FRs during senior year
Injury History
– 2023: underwent surgery right after the season, injured (unspecified but arm in sling) after playing the year through it; missed 2024 spring ball because of it
– 2025: left the Ohio State game with an unknown injury
Bio
– Turns 23 in December 2026
– Four-star recruit from Downingtown, PA
– Chose Penn State over Notre Dame, Michigan, Stanford, and several other big programs, citing desire to be close to home and the Nittany Lions coaching staff
– Grew up a Michigan fan because his mother is from there; opted against committing to the Wolverines after not feeling like a “priority” to the coaching staff
– Mother played basketball at Aquinas College in the late 90s
– Works at youth summer camps and on Penn State’s leadership council
– Replaced Olu Fashanu in the lineup after he left for the NFL Draft and started when Fashanu was injured in 2022, scrapping the plan for Shelton to redshirt
– Attended IMG Academy junior year before returning to PA high school for senior season
– Put on 30 pounds after attending Penn State, with coaches noting adding weight as a constant goal
– Played power forward on HS basketball team
– HS teammates with Will Howard, crediting Will for teaching him about leadership (“great kid and ball player but an even better leader and teacher,” Shelton said of him)
– Wanted to play tight end in HS but was moved to offensive line
Tape Breakdown
Drew Shelton first filled in for Olu Fashanu and then replaced him in Penn State’s lineup once Fashanu made his move to the NFL. He has protected the blindside the past two seasons and is an athletic, pass-protect-first lineman.
Shelton is a plus athlete who isn’t fully captured by his testing. Light on his feet and quick from his stance, he gets depth and width on his pass sets to seal the edge. In the second clip against Oregon, watch him redirect against the inside rush.
That athleticism is just as useful in the running game. He’s at his best pulling and playing in space. Penn State even occasionally aligned him as a wing set out wider to get him on the move.
A lack of size, strength, and bulk is the problem. Despite adding weight since arriving at Penn State, Shelton is small and thin by NFL standards. He gets pushed around by bull and power rushes.
In the run game, he has trouble sustaining blocks and is consistently unable to latch.
Though good in pass protection, Ohio State’s Arvell Reese carved him up this year.
Conclusion
Overall, Drew Shelton is an agile and athletic pass-protecting left tackle. Subpar strength and power are severe limitations. A finesse player, Shelton fits best in an outside zone-blocking scheme that can add in a couple of sweeps/dart schemes. Even still, he’ll have trouble with bigger and stronger linemen. Kicking inside to guard and playing in a phone booth won’t help either.
The NFL comp that kept running through my mind was Kelvin Beachum.
NFL Projection: Late Day Two-Early Day ThreeSteelers Depot Grade: 7.6 (Spot Starter)Grade Range: 6.7-8.1Games Watched: at Iowa (2025), at Ohio State (2025), vs Oregon (2025)
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