Olakunle Fatukasi

Olakunle Fatukasi (born June 11, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rutgers.

Olakunle Fatukasi
No. 54 – Los Angeles Rams
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1999-06-11) June 11, 1999
Far Rockaway, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:Grand Street Campus
(Brooklyn, New York)
College:Rutgers (2017–2021)
Undrafted:2022
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 14, 2022
Total tackles:5
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

College career

Fatukasi committed to Rutgers as a three star recruit[1] in 2016 as a part of their 2017 class. In His freshman year, he appeared in all twelve of Rutgers’ games. In 2018 he appeared in eleven games compiling twenty tackles between linebacker and special teams. In 2019 he contributed in all twelve games Rutgers played starting ten of them at weak-side linebacker. In the covid season of 2020 his first under Greg Schiano, Fatukasi was named a team captain. He started all nine games and led the Big Ten in tackles. At one point during the season he was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive player of the week. He was named as a semifinalists for the Butkus Award and earned First-team All-Big Ten from the media and second-team from the coaches. He came back to Rutgers for the 2021 season,[2][3][4] due to the NCAA COVID exemption.[5] It was announced he would be switching from outside to inside linebacker for the 2021 season. He finished the 2021 season named third-team all Big Ten even though he missed multiple games due to injury.

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 1+1⁄4 in
(1.86 m)		 234 lb
(106 kg)		 32+7⁄8 in
(0.84 m)		 9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.79 s1.63 s2.78 s4.36 s6.76 s38.0 in
(0.97 m)		10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)		21 reps
All values from Pro Day[6]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Fatukasi signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022.[7] He made the Buccaneers' initial 53-man roster out of training camp. He played in 13 games before being waived on December 13, 2022.[8]

Denver Broncos

On December 16, 2022, Fatukasi was signed to the Denver Broncos' practice squad.[9]

New England Patriots

On January 18, 2023, Fatukasi signed a reserve/future contract with the New England Patriots.[10] On August 12, Fatukasi was waived by the Patriots.[11]

Kansas City Chiefs

On August 15, 2023, Fatukasi signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.[12] He was waived with injury designation on August 29. He reverted to the Chiefs' injured reserve after going unclaimed on waivers.[13] On September 1, he was released from injured reserve after reaching an injury settlement with the Chiefs.[14]

Los Angeles Rams

Fatukasi signed with the Los Angeles Rams practice squad on October 11, 2023.[15]

Personal life

Fatukasi is of Nigerian descent. He has two brothers, his younger brother Tunde, previously played at Rutgers and now plays at Bowling Green.[16] His older brother, Folorunso played football at UConn and currently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars.[17][18] He has his own t-shirt company called O3.

References
  1. "Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Linebacker". 247Sports. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  2. Harvey, Kayla (July 5, 2021). "Rutgers' Olakunle Fatukasi, the Big Ten's top returning tackler, out to disrupt Ohio State's offense: Buckeyes' best opponents, No. 16". cleveland.com. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  3. Sargeant, Keith (February 23, 2021). "Here's the 'unfinished business' that led Rutgers linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi to put off the NFL for another year". NJ.com. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  4. Breitman, Aaron (December 22, 2020). "Olakunle Fatukasi returns to Rutgers for next season". On the Banks. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  5. Patuto, Greg (July 19, 2021). "Olakunle Fatukasi named to Bednarik Award Watch List". On the Banks. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  6. "2022 Draft Scout Olakunle Fatukasi, Rutgers NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  7. Smith, Scott (May 13, 2022). "Bucs Add 13 More Rookies from Undrafted Ranks". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  8. Smith, Scott (December 13, 2022). "Bucs Waive Rookie LB Olakunle Fatukasi". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  9. Comeaux, Jonathan (December 16, 2022). "Broncos Signed LB Olakunle Fatukasi To Practice Squad". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  10. "Patriots sign linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi to a future contract". Patriots.com. January 18, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  11. "Patriots Make A Series of Transactions". Patriots.com. August 12, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  12. "Chiefs put Jody Fortson on IR, make 3 other roster moves on Tuesday". Arrowhead Pride. SB Nation. August 15, 2023.
  13. "Chiefs 2023 Roster Down to NFL-Mandated 53". Chiefs.com.
  14. "Olakunle Fatukasi: Let go by KC". CBSSports.com.
  15. "Rams sign LB Olakunle Fatukasi to practice squad". Rams Wire. USA Today. October 11, 2023.
  16. Nalwasky, Chris (October 23, 2020). "Rutgers Football brothers Bo Melton excited to play with brother Malachi Melton". TheKnightReport. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  17. Ryan, Chris (December 17, 2020). "Jets place Folorunso Fatukasi, brother of Rutgers' Olakunle Fatukasi, on COVID-19 list | What it means". NJ.com. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  18. Cannizzaro, Mark (November 28, 2020). "Fatukasi brothers living their dreams with Jets, Rutgers in unique times". New York Post. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
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