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.

College career

Fatukasi committed to Rutgers as a three star recruit 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, due to the NCAA COVID exemption. 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.

Olakunle Fatukasi

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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

Olakunle Fatukasi

Denver Broncos

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

Olakunle Fatukasi

New England Patriots

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

Kansas City Chiefs

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

Los Angeles Rams

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

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. His older brother, Folorunso played football at UConn and currently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has his own t-shirt company called O3.

References

External links

Los Angeles Rams bio

Rutgers Scarlet Knights bio

Living people

1999 births

21st-century African-American sportspeople

African-American players of American football

American sportspeople of Nigerian descent

People from Far Rockaway, Queens

Players of American football from Queens, New York

American football linebackers

Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players

Tampa Bay Buccaneers players

New England Patriots players

Kansas City Chiefs players

Los Angeles Rams players