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D. J. Fluker

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D. J. Fluker
D.J. Fluker
Fluker with the New York Giants in 2017.
No. 78 – Seattle Seahawks
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1991-03-13) March 13, 1991 (age 33)
New Orleans, Louisiana
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:345 lb (156 kg)
Career information
High school:Foley (Foley, Alabama)
College:Alabama
NFL draft:2013 / round: 1 / pick: 11
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2017
Games played:68
Games started:65
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Danny Lee Jesus "D. J." Fluker (born March 13, 1991) is an American football guard for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama, where he was recognized as an All-American.

High school career

Born and raised in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana,[1] Fluker and his family left the city in the final hours before Hurricane Katrina roared ashore.[2] They moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, and later Mobile, Alabama, where Fluker attended McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. By eighth grade, he stood 6'3" and weighed 400 pounds, but later lost much of that weight.[3] At McGill-Toolen, Fluker was a dominating defensive lineman.[4] Family issues took Fluker back to Biloxi, for his junior year, where he remained at defensive tackle, after almost giving up on his football career.[5]

Prior to his senior year, Fluker moved back to Alabama—this time to the city of Foley. At Foley High School, head coach Todd Watson convinced Fluker to play on the offensive line to exploit his full potential.[3] Foley finished the season with a 7–3 record, including a 24–17 win over Fluker's old McGill-Toolen team. Fluker earned high school All-American honors from USA Today, Parade, EA Sports, and SuperPrep. He also received an invitation to the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[6]

In addition to football, Fluker was also a member of the Foley track & field team, where he threw the shot put, recording a top-throw of 16.27 meters (53 ft 1 in) at the 2009 Mobile Challenge, where he took 4th.[7]

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Fluker was ranked No. 1 among offensive tackle prospects in the nation.[8] Despite growing up an LSU Tigers fan, Fluker committed to Alabama.[9]

College career

The kid's a freak athlete. He probably outweighs me by 70 pounds and moves just as well.

— Mike Johnson, Fluker's Alabama teammate.[10]

Fluker enrolled in the University of Alabama, where he was a member of coach Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide football team from 2009 to 2012. Projected to play as true freshman at Alabama, he was a candidate to replace All-American Andre Smith at left tackle, although junior college transfer James Carpenter was considered to have better chances,[10] and eventually got the starting nod. Fluker started the season as third-string right tackle,[11] but eventually redshirted his first year.[12] In 2010, Fluker started nine games at right tackle. He missed three games with an injury midseason.[13]

As a sophomore, Fluker started all 13 games for the Crimson Tide at right tackle on their way to the BCS National Championship victory over the LSU Tigers.[14] As a junior, he started all 14 games at right tackle as Alabama repeated as BCS National Champions, this time against Notre Dame.[15] He was selected Walter Camp and Associated Press second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC. He has graded out at 98.6 percent on blocking assignments.[16] Since he had graduated and was in his fourth year, Fluker was granted eligibity by the National Football League to participate in the 2013 Senior Bowl.[17]

On September 11, 2013, Yahoo Sports reported Fluker, along with Tyler Bray, Maurice Couch, Fletcher Cox, and Chad Bumphis, received benefits totaling in the thousands of dollars from former Alabama football player, Luther Davis.[18] According to the report, Davis acted as a "bag man" for agents looking to gain the business of Fluker and the other players. Subsequent to its reports, Yahoo Sports published various receipts and flight plans allegedly showing the benefits and direct payments given to the players.[19]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Bench press
6 ft 4+5⁄8 in
(1.95 m) 		339 lb
(154 kg) 		36+3⁄4 in
(0.93 m) 		10+1⁄2 in
(0.27 m)		 5.28 s 1.90 s 3.06 s 21 reps
All values from NFL Combine[20]
Fluker with the San Diego Chargers in 2013.

San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers selected Fluker in the first round (11th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was the third of nine Crimson Tide players to be selected that year.[21][22][23] He is the fourth Alabama offensive lineman selected in the first round within five years, after Andre Smith (2009), James Carpenter (2011), and Chance Warmack (2013).[24]

During his rookie year, Fluker started in 15 games and was named to the All-Rookie Team.[25][26] In the 2014 season, he started all sixteen games for the first time in his professional career.[27] For the 2015 season, he moved from right tackle to right guard. In the 2015 season, he started in 12 games and recovered one fumble. He missed some time on the season due to a ankle injury.[28][29] In the 2016 season, he started in all 16 games.[30]

On March 7, 2017, Fluker was released by the Chargers, who had relocated to Los Angeles.[31]

New York Giants

On March 11, 2017, Fluker signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the New York Giants.[32][33] He played in nine games, starting six at right guard before hurting his toe in Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs.[34] He was placed on injured reserve on November 27, 2017.[35]

Seattle Seahawks

On March 20, 2018, Fluker was signed by the Seattle Seahawks.[36]

References

  1. ^ "The house D.J. Fluker bought". San Diego Union-Tribune. August 10, 2013.
  2. ^ Bean, Josh (January 31, 2009). "Taken by storm". The Mississippi Press. Archived from the original on August 16, 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b Staples, Andy (January 28, 2009). "Alabama commit D.J. Fluker prodigious size, skill". Sports Illustrated.
  4. ^ Zenor, John. "D.J. Fluker's goes from homeless to NFL lineman". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  5. ^ "Alabama commitment D.J. Fluker of Foley nearly gave up his promising football career after moving back to Biloxi". Press-Register. February 1, 2009.
  6. ^ "Foley offensive tackle D.J. Fluker a big guy with big talent, tops Birmingham News Super Seniors list". al.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  7. ^ "2009 Results - Mobile Challenge 2009-04-04 AL - DyeStat.com TFX". Parser.dyestat.com. 2009-04-04. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  8. ^ "2009 Offensive Tackles". Rivals.com. January 15, 2009.
  9. ^ "Alabama 2010 Football Commits". 247Sports. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  10. ^ a b Schmidt, Andrew (July 23, 2009), "Saban says offensive front 'critical area to develop'", Gadsden Times, archived from the original on August 1, 2009
  11. ^ "No freshmen listed on Tide two-deep", Mobile Press-Register, September 1, 2009, archived from the original on September 3, 2009 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "D.J. Fluker makes it three consecutive Alabama players taken in the first round; No. 11 overall to the San Diego Chargers". AL.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  13. ^ "Notebook: Hill leaves ECU, Menzie injured, Fluker dresses and other stuff". AL.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  14. ^ "BCS national championship: Alabama handles LSU 21-0 to claim title". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  15. ^ "No. 2 Alabama 42, No. 1 Notre Dame 14". FOX Sports. 2013-01-08. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  16. ^ "D. J. Fluker Bio". Rolltide.com. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  17. ^ "First non-seniors to compete in Senior Bowl". CBS Sports. January 19, 2013. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  18. ^ Getlin, Rand (2013-09-11). "Documents, text messages reveal impermissible benefits to five SEC players - Yahoo Sports". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  19. ^ "SEC investigation". Sports.yahoo.com. 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  20. ^ "*D.J. Fluker | Alabama, OT : 2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". Nfldraftscout.com. 2006-09-21. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  21. ^ "Alabama has 35 players on NFL Rosters to begin 2013 season". rolltide.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  22. ^ Gehlken, Michael (April 25, 2013). "Chargers draft Alabama's D.J. Fluker". U-T San Diego.
  23. ^ "2013 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  24. ^ "Alabama Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  25. ^ "2013 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  26. ^ "2013 San Diego Chargers Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  27. ^ "2014 San Diego Chargers Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  28. ^ Gehlken, Michael. "Chargers' D.J. Fluker carted off with ankle injury". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  29. ^ "2015 San Diego Chargers Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  30. ^ "2016 San Diego Chargers Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  31. ^ Henne, Ricky (March 7, 2017). "Chargers Release Trio of Vets Including CB Brandon Flowers". Los Angeles Chargers.
  32. ^ Bergman, Jeremy (March 11, 2017). "New York Giants add D.J. Fluker on one-year deal". NFL.com.
  33. ^ Eisen, Michael (March 12, 2017). "New York Giants sign Free Agent OL D.J. Fluker". Giants.com.
  34. ^ "2017 New York Giants Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  35. ^ Eisen, Michael (November 27, 2017). "Giants place OL Fluker, CB Deayon, LB Grant, and LB Skinner on IR". Giants.com.
  36. ^ Henderson, Brady (March 20, 2018). "Guard D.J. Fluker agrees to terms with Seahawks, source says". ESPN.com.
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