New York Jets defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi is the New York Jets 2020 nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
Folorunso Fatukasi is the New York Jets‘ nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award this season.
Fatukasi, 25, is one of the Jets’ hometown boys. Born in Far Rockaway, NY, the Jets snagged the Connecticut product in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. After a rookie season that saw him dress in just a single game, his breakout happened under Gregg Williams.
The man who usually flies under the radar is currently ranked 10th by PFF among all NFL interior defensive tackles. His 85.4 overall grade represents a team-high (edging Quinnen Williams‘s 80.7 grade) and trails Aaron Donald‘s league-leading 93.2 grade by just 7.8 points.
A year ago, veteran Adrian Peterson took home the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Created in 2014, in honor of famed Pittsburgh Steelers patriarch Art Rooney, the award is dished to the player who exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship on the field.
Steve McLendon was chosen by the Jets as their nominee in 2019. McLendon was also the nominee in 2018. Josh McCown, Brandon Marshall and David Harris round out the team’s nominees going back to 2015.
Past award winners include the previously-mentioned Peterson, Drew Brees, Luke Kuechly, current Jet Frank Gore, Charles Woodson and Larry Fitzgerald.
