Luke Fortner

Last updated

Luke Fortner
No. 79 – New Orleans Saints
Luke Fortner.jpg
Fortner with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022
Personal information
Born (1998-05-15) May 15, 1998 (age 27)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. [1]
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight307 lb (139 kg)
Career information
Position Center
High school Sylvania Northview
(Sylvania, Ohio)
College Kentucky (2016–2021)
NFL draft 2022: 3rd round, 65th overall
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Games played51
Games started34
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Luke Fortner (born May 15, 1998) is an American professional football center for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Fortner grew up in Sylvania, Ohio and attended Sylvania Northview High School. [2]

College career

Fortner redshirted his true freshman season at the University of 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
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-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 s1.77 s2.99 s4.95 s7.75 s29.0 in
(0.74 m)		8 ft 6 in
(2.59 m)		31 reps
Sources: [10] [11] [12]

Jacksonville Jaguars

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.

New Orleans Saints

On August 17, 2025, Fortner was traded to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for defensive tackle Khalen Saunders. [14]

References

  1. ↑ https://ukathletics.com/sports/football/roster/player/luke-fortner/ [ bare URL ]
  2. ↑ "What Sylvania's Luke Fortner had to say during media availability at the NFL Combine". Toledo Blade . March 3, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  3. ↑ Hale, Jon (April 5, 2017). "Kentucky Football: Offensive linemen 'ready to play anywhere'". The Courier-Journal . Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Kentucky football: Previewing offensive line for 2019 season". The Courier-Journal . July 28, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  5. ↑ "From prospects to pros: 2022 NFL Draft résumé for Kentucky center Luke Fortner". Lexington Herald-Leader . April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Fortner looks ahead to draft after strong final season at Kentucky". Toledo Blade . January 6, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "2022 NFL Draft: Top Interior Offensive Linemen". The San Diego Union-Tribune . April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  9. ↑ UK football player balancing NFL, engineering futures (video). WYMT. April 21, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Luke Fortner Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  11. ↑ "2022 Draft Scout Luke Fortner, Kentucky NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Luke Fortner 2022 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  13. ↑ Oehser, John (April 29, 2022). "No. 65 overall: Fortner is the selection". Jaguars.com.
  14. ↑ Williams, Charean (August 17, 2025). "Saints trade DT Khalen Saunders to the Jaguars for C Luke Fortner". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
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