D. J. Fluker

Danny Lee Jesus "D. J." Fluker (born March 13, 1991) is an American football tackle for the Baltimore Ravens 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.

D. J. Fluker
Fluker in 2020
No. 70 – Baltimore Ravens
Position:Tackle
Personal information
Born: (1991-03-13) March 13, 1991
New Orleans, Louisiana
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:342 lb (155 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 2020
Games played:108
Games started:96
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

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]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand size40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleVertical jumpBench 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)		5.31 s1.90 s3.12 s5.00 s27 1⁄2 in
(0.70 m)		21 reps
All values from NFL Combine[18] except vertical jump and 20-ss
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.[19][20][21] He was the fourth Alabama offensive lineman selected in the first round within five years, after Andre Smith (2009), James Carpenter (2011), and Chance Warmack (2013).[22]

During his rookie year, Fluker started in 15 games and was named to the All-Rookie Team.[23][24] In the 2014 season, he started all sixteen games for the first time in his professional career.[25] 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.[26][27] In the 2016 season, he started in all 16 games.[28]

On March 7, 2017, Fluker was released by the Chargers, who had relocated to Los Angeles.[29]

New York Giants

On March 11, 2017, Fluker signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the New York Giants.[30][31] He played in nine games, starting six at right guard before hurting his toe in Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs.[32] He was placed on injured reserve on November 27, 2017.[33]

Seattle Seahawks

On March 20, 2018, Fluker was signed by the Seattle Seahawks. He played in 10 games, starting nine at right guard.

On March 14, 2019, Fluker signed a two-year, $9 million contract extension with the Seahawks.[34] Fluker was released by the Seahawks on April 27, 2020.[35]

Baltimore Ravens

On May 11, 2020, Fluker was signed by the Baltimore Ravens.[36] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 28, 2020,[37] and activated two days later.[38]

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.
  3. 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 August 27, 2018.
  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. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  6. "Foley offensive tackle D.J. Fluker a big guy with big talent, tops Birmingham News Super Seniors list". al.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  7. "2009 Results - Mobile Challenge 2009-04-04 AL - DyeStat.com TFX". Parser.dyestat.com. April 4, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  8. "2009 Offensive Tackles". Rivals.com. January 15, 2009.
  9. "Alabama 2010 Football Commits". 247Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  10. 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
  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 August 27, 2018.
  13. "Notebook: Hill leaves ECU, Menzie injured, Fluker dresses and other stuff". AL.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  14. "BCS national championship: Alabama handles LSU 21-0 to claim title". Washington Post. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  15. "No. 2 Alabama 42, No. 1 Notre Dame 14". FOX Sports. January 8, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  16. "D. J. Fluker Bio". Rolltide.com. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  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. "*D.J. Fluker | Alabama, OT : 2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". Nfldraftscout.com. September 21, 2006. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  19. "Alabama has 35 players on NFL Rosters to begin 2013 season". rolltide.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  20. Gehlken, Michael (April 25, 2013). "Chargers draft Alabama's D.J. Fluker". U-T San Diego.
  21. "2013 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  22. "Alabama Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  23. "2013 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  24. "2013 San Diego Chargers Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  25. "2014 San Diego Chargers Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  26. Gehlken, Michael. "Chargers' D.J. Fluker carted off with ankle injury". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  27. "2015 San Diego Chargers Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  28. "2016 San Diego Chargers Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  29. Henne, Ricky (March 7, 2017). "Chargers Release Trio of Vets Including CB Brandon Flowers". Los Angeles Chargers.
  30. Bergman, Jeremy (March 11, 2017). "New York Giants add D.J. Fluker on one-year deal". NFL.com.
  31. Eisen, Michael (March 12, 2017). "New York Giants sign Free Agent OL D.J. Fluker". Giants.com.
  32. "2017 New York Giants Starters, Roster, & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  33. Eisen, Michael (November 27, 2017). "Giants place OL Fluker, CB Deayon, LB Grant, and LB Skinner on IR". Giants.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017.
  34. "Seahawks sign D.J. Fluker to 2-year, $9 million deal to solidify offensive line". SeattleTimes.com. March 14, 2019.
  35. Boyle, John (April 27, 2020). "Seahawks Release Guard D.J. Fluker". Seahawks.com. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  36. Brown, Clifton (May 11, 2020). "Ravens Officially Sign Veteran Guard D.J. Fluker". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  37. Brown, Clifton (November 28, 2020). "Six Ravens Added to Reserve/COVID-19 List". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  38. Brown, Clifton; Mink, Ryan (November 30, 2020). "Four More Ravens Added to Reserve/COVID-19 List, Four Return". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
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