The Butkus Award semifinal list has been cut to 16 and for the second-consecutive year, Olakule Fatukasi is mentioned. This is an award that is presented the the best linebacker in the nation and this is the level that Fatukasi has been playing for two years now.
In 2021, Fatukasi currently leads Rutgers with 71 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He is ranked 10th nationally and third in the Big Ten with 9.9 tackles per game. He has 11 tackles-for-loss and a safety, which came in the season opener against Temple. Fatukasi has totaled at least eight tackles in every game this season and a season-high of 13 against Syracuse and Northwestern.