Tutu Atwell

Tutu Atwell
No. 5 – Los Angeles Rams
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1999-10-07) October 7, 1999 (age 25)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:165 lb (75 kg)
Career information
High school:Miami Northwestern
(Miami, Florida)
College:Louisville (2018–2020)
NFL draft:2021 / round: 2 / pick: 57
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2024
Receptions:81
Receiving yards:1,131
Receiving touchdowns:4
Return yards:141
Rushing yards:72
Rushing touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Chatarius "Tutu" Atwell (born October 7, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Louisville, and was drafted by the Rams in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early life

Atwell attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School in Miami, Florida. He played quarterback in high school and was a four-year starter.[1] As a senior, he was the Miami-Dade County Player of the Year.[2] Atwell committed to the University of Louisville to play college football.[3]

College career

Atwell was switched to wide receiver at Louisville.[4] As a freshman in 2018, he played in 12 games, recording 24 receptions for 406 yards and two touchdowns.[5] As a sophomore in 2019, he started 11 of 13 games, finishing with 70 receptions for 1,276 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 1,276 yards led the Atlantic Coast Conference and broke Harry Douglas' school record.[6] On December 8, 2020, Atwell announced that he would opt out for the remainder of the 2020 season due to an undisclosed injury. In addition, he decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2021 NFL draft.[7]

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
5 ft 8+7⁄8 in
(1.75 m) 		155 lb
(70 kg) 		29+1⁄4 in
(0.74 m) 		8+7⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.39 s 1.49 s 2.60 s 4.09 s 6.87 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)		 9 ft 9 in
(2.97 m)
All values from Pro Day[8][9]

Atwell was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round (57th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.[10] On May 14, Atwell signed his four-year rookie contract with the Rams. He played in eight games before being placed on injured reserve on November 2, 2021.[11] He finished his rookie year with zero catches and was mainly used as a return specialist.[12] In 2021, Atwell won Super Bowl LVI when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20.[13] In Week 11 of the 2022 season, against the New Orleans Saints, Atwell scored his first professional touchdown on a 62-yard reception.[14] In the 2022 season, he recorded 18 receptions for 298 receiving yards and one touchdown in 13 games and four starts.[15] In the 2023 season, he appeared in 16 games and made 14 starts. He finished with 39 receptions for 483 yards and three touchdowns.[16] He scored a 38-yard receiving touchdown in the Rams' Wild Card Round loss to the Detroit Lions.[17]

Personal life

Atwell's father, Tutu Atwell Sr., was a wide receiver at the University of Minnesota (1994-1997), ranking fourth in career receiving yards and sixth in career touchdowns.[18]

References

  1. ^ Fernandez, Andre C. (September 2, 2017). "Tutu Atwell wants state title to cap stellar career at Northwestern". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. ^ Daley, Bill (December 15, 2017). "This Miami-Dade coach and player honored for their football achievements". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  3. ^ Jones, Steve (August 21, 2017). "Louisville football recruiting | Miami Northwestern ATH Tutu Atwell commits to Louisville". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Lourim, Jake (March 12, 2018). "Tutu Atwell shows track speed at Louisville football's spring combine drills". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  5. ^ Robinson, Cameron Teague (September 15, 2019). "Tutu Atwell is becoming Louisville's reliable playmaker at wide receiver". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Nelson, Joe (December 31, 2019). "Gopher great Tutu Atwell's son breaks record at Louisville". Bring Me The News. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Robinson, Cameron Teague (December 8, 2020). "Louisville football's Tutu Atwell unable to play in final game, will enter NFL Draft". Courier Journal. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "Tutu Atwell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  9. ^ "Tutu Atwell, Louisville, WR, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  10. ^ Jackson, Stu (April 30, 2021). "Rams select WR Tutu Atwell with 57th pick in 2021 NFL Draft". TheRams.com. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  11. ^ DaSilva, Cameron (November 2, 2021). "Rams waive Jonah Williams, place Tutu Atwell and Travin Howard on IR". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  12. ^ "Tutu Atwell 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  13. ^ Schwartz, Paul (February 13, 2021). "LA Rams defeat Cincinnati Bengals to win Super Bowl 2022". New York Post. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  14. ^ "Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints - November 20th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  15. ^ "Tutu Atwell 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  16. ^ "Tutu Atwell 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Wild Card - Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions - January 14th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  18. ^ "Minnesota Golden Gophers 2022 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Minnesota Golden Gophers Athletics. Retrieved May 29, 2023.