D. J. Fluker

D. J. Fluker

Alabama Crimson Tide — No. 76
Offensive tackle	Sophomore
Major: Health Studies
Date of birth: March 13, 1991 (1991-03-13) (age 20)
Place of birth: New Orleans, Louisiana
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	Weight: 340 lb (154 kg; 24 st 4 lb)
Career history
High school: Foley High School, Foley, Alabama
College(s): University of Alabama (2009–present)
Career highlights and awards
2008 High School All-American (consensus) 2011 Preseason All-SEC (Coaches)
Stats at CBSSports.com

Danny Lee Jesus "D. J." Fluker (born 1991) is an American football offensive tackle. He currently attends the University of Alabama in his freshman year. Fluker is considered one of the best offensive tackles of his class.^[1]

High school career

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, 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. Family issues took Fluker back to Biloxi, for his junior year, where he remained at defensive tackle.^[3][4]

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] In his first year at offensive tackle, Fluker graded out at 92 percent with 60 pancake blocks and 28 knockdowns. He earned All-American honors by USA Today, Parade, EA Sports, and SuperPrep. He also received an invitation to the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Fluker ranked first among offensive tackle prospects in the nation.^[5] Despite growing up an LSU fan, Fluker committed to Alabama.^[6]

College career

“	The kid’s a freak athlete. He probably outweighs me by 70 pounds and moves just as well.	”
—Alabama offensive lineman Mike Johnson on Fluker.[7]

Projected to play as true freshman at Alabama, Fluker was a candidate to replace All-American Andre Smith at left tackle, although junior college transfer James Carpenter was considered to have better chances,^[7] and eventually got the starting nod. Fluker started the season as third-string right tackle,^[8] but eventually redshirted his first year. In 2010, Fluker started nine games at right tackle. He missed three games with an injury midseason.

References

1. ^ NFL Draft - 2013 OT Draft Prospects, CBSSports.com, http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/TSX/2013_OT 
2. ^ Bean, Josh (January 31, 2009), "Taken by storm", The Mississippi Press, http://www.gulflive.com/sports/mississippipress/index.ssf?/base/sports/1233400540146210.xml 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Staples, Andy (January 28, 2009), "Alabama commit D.J. Fluker prodigious size, skill", Sports Illustrated, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andy_staples/01/28/fluker/ 
4. ^ Bean, Josh (February 1, 2009), "Ready to give it up", Mobile Press-Register, http://www.al.com/press-register/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports/123348341069270.xml 
5. ^ Rivals.com offensive tackles 2009, January 15, 2009, http://www.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?ra_key=2121 
6. ^ 2009 Recruiting: D.J. Fluker Commits, RollBamaRoll, November 6, 2007, http://www.rollbamaroll.com/story/2007/11/6/16257/7598 
7. ^ ^{a b} Schmidt, Andrew (July 23, 2009), "Saban says offensive front 'critical area to develop'", Gadsden Times, http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20090723/NEWS/907239938/1009/SPORTS?Title=Saban-says-offensive-front-critical-area-to-develop- 
8. ^ "No freshmen listed on Tide two-deep", Mobile Press-Register, September 1, 2009, http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/sports/1251816314273320.xml&coll=3 

External links

• Alabama Crimson Tide bio

Persondata
Name	Fluker, DJ
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1991
Place of birth	New Orleans, Louisiana
Date of death
Place of death