PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi claimed a spot on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list released Monday. The award, powered by Mammoth Tech, is presented annually to the top defensive player in college football by the Maxwell Football Club.
 
Fatukasi led the Big Ten with 101 tackles last season, ranking ninth nationally with 11.2 per game for the best average by a Scarlet Knight since 1999. The linebacker also paced the team and placed second in the conference with 11.0 tackles-for-loss. He posted six games with double-figure stops, reaching 17 versus Michigan and Penn State.
 
A native of Far Rockaway, New York, Fatukasi was one of 16 Butkus Award semifinalists, which honors the top linebacker in the country, in 2020. He was voted First Team All-Big Ten by the media.
 
Following the season opener at Michigan State, Fatukasi earned Bednarik Award National Player of the Week and Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after posting 10 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in the win. He also served as a team captain for the Scarlet Knights.
 
Semifinalists for the 2021 Bednarik Award will be announced in November.
 
Under the direction of head coach Greg Schiano, Rutgers matched its program high with three Big Ten victories in 2020. The Scarlet Knights had 14 players recognized in the All-Big Ten voting, the most for the program since joining the league. In addition, RU posted a team-best 26.7 points per game in a Big Ten season, a gain of 13.4 points per game from the previous season for the fourth-best improvement nationally. The defense collected 19 takeaways and led the conference with 7.8 tackles-for-loss, while the kick return units were one of four nationally with at least three kick return touchdowns. Academically, Rutgers saw 46 student-athletes earn Academic All-Big Ten honors, a program high.
 
Rutgers opens the season Sept. 2 versus Temple at SHI Stadium in a game presented by PNC. Click here for information on season tickets.

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— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) June 11, 2021

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