Photo by: Mike Lawrence
Fatukasi Named a Butkus Award Semifinalist
Nov 30 | Football
Scarlet Knights Down PurdueFatukasi: Bednarik Award National Player of the WeekMelton: Biletnikoff Award Watch List
Linebacker ranks fifth nationally with 12.5 tackles per game
PISCATAWAY, N.J. ā Olakunle Fatukasi represents Rutgers football as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, the Butkus Foundation announced Monday. The award honors the nation's best linebackers and includes 16 semifinalists at the collegiate level.
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Fatukasi sits atop the Big Ten leaderboard after six weeks with 75 tackles (52 against run, 19 against pass, two sacks, one on special teams and one forcing a fumble), 14 more than any other player in the league. The 12.5 per game ranks fifth nationally. Fatukasi owns nine tackles-for-loss, including two sacks, to place second in the conference.
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The New York native has five games this season with double-digit stops, posting a career-high 17 versus Michigan. The 75 tackles are the most by a Scarlet Knight through six games since Brian Sheridan totaled 83 in the first six games of the 1997 season.
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Fatukasi earned the Bednarik Award National Player of the Week and Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after collecting 10 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in the season-opening win at Michigan State.
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Fatukasi is one of two Big Ten linebackers to earn a spot as a Butkus Award semifinalist. Finalists will be announced Dec. 7.
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Coming off a 37-30 victory at Purdue, Rutgers is back in action Saturday versus Penn State, presented by Provident Bank. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on FS1.
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Fatukasi sits atop the Big Ten leaderboard after six weeks with 75 tackles (52 against run, 19 against pass, two sacks, one on special teams and one forcing a fumble), 14 more than any other player in the league. The 12.5 per game ranks fifth nationally. Fatukasi owns nine tackles-for-loss, including two sacks, to place second in the conference.
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The New York native has five games this season with double-digit stops, posting a career-high 17 versus Michigan. The 75 tackles are the most by a Scarlet Knight through six games since Brian Sheridan totaled 83 in the first six games of the 1997 season.
Ā
Fatukasi earned the Bednarik Award National Player of the Week and Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after collecting 10 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in the season-opening win at Michigan State.
Ā
Fatukasi is one of two Big Ten linebackers to earn a spot as a Butkus Award semifinalist. Finalists will be announced Dec. 7.
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Coming off a 37-30 victory at Purdue, Rutgers is back in action Saturday versus Penn State, presented by Provident Bank. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on FS1.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding football, follow the program on Twitter (@RFootball), subscribe to theĀ YouTubeĀ channel and visitĀ Rutgers.Football.03 has been named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award!
ā Rutgers.Football (@RFootball) November 30, 2020
The award is given to the nations best linebacker. @o_threee | #CHOP pic.twitter.com/lKi1W7e7nS
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