Folorunso Fatukasi made a name for himself in his second season with the Jets.
After only playing three defensive snaps as a rookie in 2018, Fatukasi found a role in the Jets defensive line rotation as a sophomore. As Fatukasi was given more opportunities to play this past season, he couldn’t help but credit his teammates for helping him along the way.
“Just the opportunity I’ve been given, being able to do it here, at this moment, to be with these guys, I think it was just very special,” Fatukasi told the team’s website. “I enjoyed coming to work every day, being with the guys working, battling with them. And I believe that’s kind of fitting, to go through all that stuff with your brothers around you and be able to help produce. It feels good.”
Fatukasi was a sixth-round pick out of UConn in 2018. In 14 games this past season, Fatukasi produced 27 combined tackles, one sack and a pass defense. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but Fatukasi played an instrumental part in New York’s elite run defense.
Jets defensive line coach Andre Carter didn’t have a lot of film of Fatukasi from his rookie season. However, he noticed a major difference in his playing style in year two.
“Just attacking,” Carter said. “For Foley, it was a process, just like everybody else. But he started to see how good of a player he can be. We just continue to tell him to keep chopping wood as well as everybody else, keep playing good football.”
Now heading into his third season with Gang Green, Fatukasi will be looking for even more playing time. If he can improve on his numbers from this past season, the Jets may have found a diamond in the rough in the former sixth-round pick.