Troy Fautanu
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Troy Fautanu
| image = 2024-0106-Troy Fautanu.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Fautanu in 2024
| current_team = Pittsburgh Steelers
| number = 76
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|10|11|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Henderson, Nevada, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 317
| high_school = Liberty (Henderson)
| college = Washington (2019–2023)
| draftyear = 2024
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 20
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Injured reserve
| highlights =
- Morris Trophy (2023)
- First-team All-Pac-12 (2023)
- Second-team All-Pac-12 (2022)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 1
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 1
}}
Troy Fautanu (born October 11, 2000) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies and won the 2023 Morris Trophy. Fautanu was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Early life
Fautanu was born on October 11, 2000, in Henderson, Nevada.{{cite web|url=https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Troy-Fautanu-OL-Washington|title=Troy Fautanu Offensive Tackle Washington|website=nfldraftbuzz|access-date=November 5, 2023}} Coming out of high school, Fautanu was a three-star prospect and was rated as the 59th offensive tackle in the country.{{cite web |last1=Emerson |first1=Justin |title=Liberty OT Troy Fautanu chooses Washington |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/nevada-preps/np-football/liberty-ot-troy-fautanu-chooses-washington-1715550/ |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=7 September 2018 |access-date=6 November 2023}} Fautanu committed to play college football for the Washington Huskies.{{cite web |last1=Jude |first1=Adam |title=Huskies get commitment from three-star offensive tackle Troy Fautanu |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-football/huskies-get-commitment-from-three-star-offensive-tackle-troy-fautanu/ |website=The Seattle Times |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=6 November 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Caple |first=Christian |date=September 12, 2018 |title=14 things to know about OL Troy Fautanu, Washington's most recent recruiting commitment |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/520159/2018/09/12/troy-fautanu-washington-commitment/ |access-date=6 November 2023 |website=The Athletic}} Growing up, Fautanu was a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
College career
In Fautanu's first season in 2019 he redshirted and did not appear in any games. During the 2020 season, Fautanu appeared in four games.{{cite web |last1=Crabbs |first1=Kyle |title=2024 NFL Draft Player Profile: Washington OL Troy Fautanu |url=https://athlonsports.com/nfl/2024-nfl-draft-troy-fautanu-scouting-report-washington-huskies#gid=ci02ccc09c00002714&pid=background |website=Athlon Sports.com |date=26 October 2023 |access-date=6 November 2023}} During the 2021 season, Fautanu would play in nine games, starting in three of them.{{cite web |title=Troy Fautanu |url=https://gohuskies.com/sports/football/roster/troy-fautanu/14923 |website=Washington University Athletics |access-date=6 November 2023}} Fautanu had a breakout 2022 season, where he started all 13 games.{{cite magazine |last1=Raley |first1=Dan |title=An Insider's Look at UW Offensive Tackle Troy Fautanu ... Finally |url=https://www.si.com/college/washington/football/insiders-look-at-uw-offensive-tackle-troy-fautanu |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=29 June 2023 |access-date=6 November 2023}} In week three of the 2022 season versus Michigan State, Fautanu was named the Pac-12 offensive lineman of the week.{{cite web |last1=Vorel |first1=Mike |date=8 November 2022 |title=Want to see a scary movie? Turn on ascending UW left tackle Troy Fautanu's fullback tape |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-football/want-to-see-a-scary-movie-turn-on-ascending-uw-left-tackle-troy-fautanus-fullback-tape/ |access-date=6 November 2023 |website=The Seattle Times}} For his performance in the season, Fautanu was named second-team all Pac-12.{{cite web |last1=Vorel |first1=Mike |title=UW Huskies left tackle Troy Fautanu to return for fifth season in 2023 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-football/uw-huskies-left-tackle-troy-fautanu-to-return-for-fifth-season-in-2023/ |website=The Seattle Times |date=19 December 2022 |access-date=6 November 2023}} In the 2023 season, he won the Morris Trophy as the top offensive lineman in the Pac-12 and the Joe Moore Award as the top offensive line unit.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-11 |title=Huskies' Fautanu, McMillan to enter NFL draft |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/39282337/washington-troy-fautanu-jalen-mcmillan-enter-nfl-draft |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}} Following the season, he declared for the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Natalie |date=2024-01-14 |title=Washington OL Troy Fautanu declares for the 2024 NFL draft |url=https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2024/01/13/washington-ol-troy-fautanu-declares-for-the-2024-nfl-draft/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=The Draft Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 3/4
| weight = 317
| dash = 5.01
| ten split = 1.71
| twenty split = 2.88
| vertical = 32.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 5
| bench = 29
| arm span = 34 1/2
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Chad |last2=Zierlein |first2=Lance |title=Troy Fautanu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/troy-fautanu/32004641-5576-6320-9bff-99e263b92b33 |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1030010&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Troy Fautanu College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 14, 2024}}
}}
=2024 season=
Fautanu was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Perrotto |first=John |date=April 26, 2024 |title=NFL First-Round Draft Pick Troy Fautanu Realizes His Steelers Dream |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnperrotto/2024/04/26/first-round-draft-pick-troy-fautanu-realizes-his-steelers-dream/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Forbes |language=en}} He signed his four year rookie deal on June 3, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Steelers sign Fautanu |url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-sign-fautanu |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.steelers.com |language=en-US}}
During the Steelers' preseason game against the Houston Texans, Fautanu sustained a knee injury, causing him to miss the remainder of the team's preseason.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-11 |title=Steelers Get Injury Timeline for Troy Fautanu |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/pittsburgh-steelers-get-injury-timeline-troy-fautanu-mcl |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Pittsburgh Steelers On SI |language=en-US}} He would not appear in week 1, however, he would earn his first professional start the following week in a 13-6 victory over the Denver Broncos.{{Cite web |last=Farabaugh |first=Nick |date=2024-09-14 |title=Pittsburgh Steelers highly-touted rookie to make first career start |url=https://www.pennlive.com/steelers/2024/09/pittsburgh-steelers-highly-touted-rookie-to-make-first-career-start.html |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=pennlive |language=en}} In his first start he allowed no sacks, committed no penalties and allowed no pressures as he played for 55 offensive snaps.{{Cite web |title=Troy Fautanu {{!}} Pittsburgh Steelers T {{!}} NFL and PFF stats |url=https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/troy-fautanu/100521 |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=PFF |language=en}}
On September 20, Fautanu left the Steelers' practice with an injury that required him to undergo an MRI. He was relieved by Broderick Jones at the right tackle position for the remainder of the practice ahead of the team's week 3 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.{{Cite web |last=Adamski |first=Chris |date=2024-09-20 |title=Troy Fautanu 'tweaks' injury, leaves Steelers practice, perhaps re-opens RT for Broderick Jones |url=https://triblive.com/sports/troy-fautanu-tweaks-injury-leaves-steelers-practice-perhaps-re-opens-rt-for-broderick-jones/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=TribLIVE.com |language=en-US}} On September 21, Fautanu was placed on the Steelers' injured reserve list, making him ineligible to play for four weeks. He was officially listed as inactive prior to the Steelers week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.{{cite web | last=Pryor | first=Brooke | title=Steelers place starting RT Fautanu (knee) on IR | website=ESPN.com | date=2024-09-21 | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41358258/sources-steelers-troy-fautanu-indefinitely-knee-injury | access-date=2024-10-12}} It was revealed on September 23 that Fautanu had dislocated his kneecap, officially ending his rookie season.{{Cite web |last=Darnay |first=Mike |date=2024-09-23 |title=Report: Steelers lineman Troy Fautanu expected to miss the rest of the season with knee injury - CBS Pittsburgh |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/pittsburgh-steelers-injury-update-troy-fautanu-out-for-the-season-knee-injury-report/#:~:text=Sources:%20#Steelers%20impressive%20rookie%20RT,to%20repair%20the%20ligament%20damage.&text=NFL%20Network%20insider%20Ian%20Rapaport,' |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}
In total, Fautanu played in just one game as a rookie. Overall, Fautanu earned a PFF grade of 64.4 with a pass blocking grade of 63.9 and a run blocking grade of 59.3. Despite his shortened season, he still placed 56 out of 133 eligible offensive tackles in the league for his performance.{{cite web | title=Pittsburgh Steelers T | website=PFF | date=2024-04-14 | url=https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/troy-fautanu/100521#gradesWidget | access-date=2024-12-13}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/troy-fautanu/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio]
- [https://gohuskies.com/sports/football/roster/troy-fautanu/14923 Washington Huskies bio]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fautanu, Troy}}
Category:Players of American football from Nevada
Category:Sportspeople from Henderson, Nevada
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Washington Huskies football players
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football