PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football LB Olakunle Fatukasi is set to sign a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fatukasi becomes the fourth Scarlet Knight to join an NFL franchise, with WR Bo Melton (Seahawks) and RB Isiah Pacheco (Chiefs) being drafted and Tyreek Maddox-Williams signing as a free agent (Chargers).

A two-time Butkus Award semifinalist as one of the top linebackers in the nation, Fatukasi finished his collegiate career ranked 12th in Rutgers football history with 302 tackles in 53 games. The two-time team captain totaled 28 tackles-for-loss with seven sacks, adding seven pass breakups, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Fatukasi earned an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in January and also worked out in front of over 30 NFL personnel at Rutgers Pro Day in March.

In 2021, the New York native placed fourth in the Big Ten and 12th nationally at 9.9 tackles per game, totaling 89 overall in nine games. That included four times in double figures, posting 13 in road games at Syracuse and Northwestern. Fatukasi opened the year collecting nine tackles with four for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a safety in the win over Temple to earn Bednarik Award Player of the Week. The season performance garnered Third Team All-Big Ten in the media vote. He also took a spot on the watch lists for the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy.

Fatukasi paced the Big Ten with 101 tackles in 2020, ranking ninth nationally with 11.2 per game for the best average by a Scarlet Knight since 1999. He also led the team and placed second in the conference with 11.0 tackles-for-loss. Fatukasi posted six games with double-figure stops, reaching 17 versus Michigan and Penn State, and was selected First Team All-Big Ten in the media vote.

Fatukasi joins fellow Scarlet Knights Logan Ryan and Willington Previlon on the Tampa Bay roster. He will become the 89^th RU player overall to sign with an NFL franchise after competing for head coach Greg Schiano.

Tampa Bay Bound ‼️@o_threee ➡️ @Buccaneers #Buccaneers | #NFLKnights pic.twitter.com/iPrJHKAWRK

— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) May 1, 2022

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