Drew Shelton

NFL Draft Profile: Drew Shelton

Position: Offensive Tackle | School: Penn State | Class: Senior

Height: 6'5" | Weight: 306 lbs | Archetype: Pass Blocker (Man/Zone Hybrid)

College Career Summary

Drew Shelton arrived at Penn State as a highly touted four-star recruit from Downingtown, PA. He was thrust into the spotlight as a true freshman in 2022, starting the final five games—including the Rose Bowl—at Left Tackle in place of NFL first-rounder Olu Fashanu. After a rotational 2023 season where he showcased elite versatility by playing both Tackle spots and taking snaps at Guard, Shelton took over as the permanent blindside protector in 2024 and 2025.

His 2025 season solidified his status as one of the Big Ten's most consistent pass protectors. Starting 12 regular-season games, he was the heartbeat of an offensive line that paved the way for a 200+ yard-per-game rushing attack. Shelton announced his declaration for the 2026 NFL Draft on December 26, 2025, after a career defined by technical growth and positional flexibility.

Career Stats & Highlights

• Career Starts: 34

• 2025 Sacks Allowed: 2 (Per PFF/Scouting metrics)

• 2025 Pressures Allowed: 14

• Pancakes: ~35 (2025 Season)

• Holding Penalties: 1 (2025)

• Versatility: Has logged snaps at LT, RT, LG, and C.

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs Nevada	A	Clinical performance; PSU offense tallied 46 points.
2	vs FIU	A	Zero pressures allowed; high-efficiency in run-blocking.
3	vs Villanova	A	Controlled the edge; team rushed for over 200 yards.
4	vs #12 Oregon	B	Worst Game. Struggled with elite speed rush; allowed 1 sack.
5	@ UCLA	B+	Clean sheet in pass pro; 1 holding penalty on a reach block.
7	vs Northwestern	A-	Sound technique; handled multiple stunt looks flawlessly.
8	@ Iowa	A+	The Apex. Named PSU Staff Player of the Game; zero pressures.
10	@ #4 Ohio State	B	Battle of the titans; surrendered a sack but anchored well.
11	vs Indiana	B+	Strong in the run game; helped seal the win on the final drive.
12	@ Michigan State	A	Elite footwork; helped PSU post 10 plays of 20+ yards.
13	@ Nebraska	A-	Quietly dominant; protected Drew Allar’s blindside perfectly.
14	@ Rutgers	B+	Paved way for 234 rushing yards; physical finisher.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 94/100

• Leadership: High. Vocal leader of the "varsity" unit; mentors younger tackles.

• Mental Toughness: High; thrived in 2022 when forced into the fire as a freshman.

• Competitor: Elite; high-academic player with a drive for technical perfection.

• Team Player: Selfless; has played every O-line position except Right Guard.

• Star: High; a quiet but high-impact "anchor" for the Nittany Lions.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 88/100

• Height/Weight: 6'5", 306 lbs. (Meets height, Borderline weight).

• Stamina: Plus; played 721 snaps in 2025 with zero drop-off in efficiency.

• Durability: High; played through a shoulder injury in 2023 that required surgery.

• Injury History: Shoulders (2024 surgery); fully recovered for 2025.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 92/100

• Run Block: Plus; very effective in zone schemes using his lateral movement.

• Pass Block: Strength. Elite kick-slide and recovery ability.

• Strength: Solid; may need a year in an NFL strength program to anchor vs. heavy DTs.

• Technique: Mastery; some of the cleanest hand placement in the draft class.

• High Motor: Consistent; always looking to "find work" at the second level.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 93/100

• Speed: Elite. Basketball background shows in his range to the second level.

• Agility: Elite. Effortless mirror ability against twitchy edge rushers.

• Flexibility: High; great knee bend and hip fluidity to "sit down" on rushes.

• Acceleration: Sudden; fires out of his stance with great initial burst.

• Footwork: Clinical. Calm, quiet feet that stay under his frame.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 96/100

• Awareness: High; exceptional at passing off stunts and diagnosing blitzes early.

Scouting Report

• Strengths: Prototypical modern NFL frame; elite lateral agility and "basketball feet"; rare positional versatility (can play 4 of 5 O-line spots); highly intelligent (Academic All-Big Ten); battle-tested in the SEC and Big Ten.

• Weaknesses: Needs to add "sand in his pants" (bulk/strength) to anchor against NFL power-rushers; can occasionally be out-leveraged by smaller, squatty defensive ends; recovery from surgery in 2024 is a medical checklist item.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal for a Zone-Heavy or West Coast system (e.g., 49ers, Dolphins, Packers).

• NFL Comparison: Olu Fashanu / Charles Cross.

Scout's Final Word

"Drew Shelton is a 'dancer' at the tackle position. His feet are his greatest weapon, allowing him to mirror even the quickest NFL-bound edge rushers. While he needs to add another 10-15 lbs of functional muscle to handle the bull-rush at the next level, his technical floor is incredibly high. His ability to slide inside to Guard adds immense value to a 53-man roster. Draft Projection: 2nd Round (Potential late 1st with a strong Combine)."