Luke Fortner

American football player (born 1998)

American football player

Luke Fortner

Fortner with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022

No. 79 – Jacksonville Jaguars

Position:

Center

Personal information

Born:

(1998-05-15) May 15, 1998 (age 25)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.^[1]

Height:

6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)

Weight:

307 lb (139 kg)

Career information

High school:

Sylvania Northview
(Sylvania, Ohio)

College:

Kentucky (2016–2021)

NFL draft:

2022 / Round: 3 / Pick: 65

Career history

Jacksonville Jaguars (2022–present)

Roster status:

Active

Career highlights and awards

First-team All-SEC (2021)

Career NFL statistics as of 2023

Games played:	34
Games started:	34

Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Luke Fortner (born May 15, 1998) is an American football center for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kentucky.

Early life and high school

Fortner grew up in Sylvania, Ohio and attended Sylvania Northview High School. After Luke graduated Northview High School his successor on the offensive line happened to be his younger brother Matt. Some say Matt was the more talented one.^[2]

College career

Fortner redshirted his true freshman season at Kentucky.^[3] He appeared in eight games as a redshirt freshman.^[4] Fortner played in 11 of Kentucky's 13 games during his redshirt sophomore season.^[5] He became the Wildcats' starting left guard going into his redshirt junior season and started 13 games in 2019 and 10 in Kentucky's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Fortner decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and return to Kentucky for a sixth season.^[6] He moved to center during fall training camp and was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference by the league's coaches.^[7]^[8] Fortner graduated in May 2022 with three degrees: Bachelor's, master's in mechanical engineering, and MBA.^[9]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 4+1⁄8 in (1.93 m)	307 lb (139 kg)	33+1⁄8 in (0.84 m)	10 in (0.25 m)	5.21 s	1.77 s	2.99 s	4.95 s	7.75 s	29.0 in (0.74 m)	8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)	31 reps
Sources:^[10]^[11]^[12]

Fortner was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round, 65th overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft.^[13] He was named the Jaguars starting center as a rookie.

References

^ https://ukathletics.com/sports/football/roster/player/luke-fortner/
^ "What Sylvania's Luke Fortner had to say during media availability at the NFL Combine". Toledo Blade. March 3, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^ "Kentucky Football: Offensive linemen 'ready to play anywhere'". The Courier-Journal. April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^ "Kentucky football: Previewing offensive line for 2019 season". The Courier-Journal. July 28, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^ "From prospects to pros: 2022 NFL Draft résumé for Kentucky center Luke Fortner". Lexington Herald-Leader. April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^ "Fortner looks ahead to draft after strong final season at Kentucky". Toledo Blade. January 6, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^ Clay, John (April 26, 2022). "NFL Draft scouts say Kentucky's Luke Fortner made the most of his sixth season". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^ "2022 NFL Draft: Top Interior Offensive Linemen". The San Diego Union-Tribune. April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
^ UK football player balancing NFL, engineering futures (video). WYMT. 2022-04-21.
^ "Luke Fortner Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ "2022 Draft Scout Luke Fortner, Kentucky NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ "Luke Fortner 2022 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
^ Oehser, John (April 29, 2022). "No. 65 overall: Fortner is the selection". Jaguars.com.