The Los Angeles Rams selected Louisville wide receiver Tutu Atwell with the 57th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft (4/30/21).
College: In his three seasons at Louisville, Atwell was a big-play receiver who set the single-season school record for receiving yards in 2019 and tied the school mark for receiving touchdowns in a single-season. He recorded 140 receptions for 2,307 yards and 21 touchdowns in his three seasons as a Cardinal. Atwell is tied for fifth in school history with 21 touchdown catches, ranks fourth with ten 100-yard receiving games, and eighth with 2,307 receiving yards. As a junior in 2020, Atwell finished as the team's leading receiver with 46 receptions for 625 yards and seven touchdowns. He tied for third in the ACC in touchdowns (seven) and ranked 14th in the conference in receptions (46) and 16th in yards (625). Against Miami, he caught eight passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 129 yards and a touchdown, along with his first career rushing touchdown in the win over Florida State. Atwell played in 13 games (11 starts) during his sophomore year in 2019 when he led the ACC in receiving yards (1,276) and touchdowns (12). That year, he finished tops in the league with an average of 98.2 yards per game and led the nation with four receptions of 70 or more yards, setting the school record with 1,275 yards and tying a school record with 12 touchdowns. With 1,275 yards receiving, Atwell broke Harry Douglas' previous mark of 1,265 yards, which was set in 2007, tied the school mark with seven 100-yard receiving games, was named a Pro Football Focus First-Team All-American, and earned First-Team All-ACC honors. He became the first Louisville player with three touchdowns receptions since 2015 when he caught for 145 yards and three touchdowns against Western Kentucky. He finished with a career-best 152 yards on five receptions and two touchdowns, including one that was 90-yards against Syracuse. Atwell finished his collegiate career with the seventh-most receiving yards in Louisville's program history.
Personal: Atwell enrolled at Louisville in January 2018 and played his high school ball at Miami Northwestern High where he was a four-year starter. He was the recipient of the Miami-Dade County Player of the Year award in 2017. The three-star recruit was regarded as one of the top players in Florida after guiding Northwestern to the FHSAA 6A state championship. Atwell was a dual-threat quarterback with great athleticism and speed. He passed for over 4,000 yards in his career, while running for over 1,500 yards. He chose Louisville over offers from Florida Atlantic, East Carolina, Florida International, Illinois, Marshall, South Florida, UAB, McNeese State, Northern Colorado, Georgia State, Toledo, and Valdosta State. His father, Chatarius Atwell, played wide receiver at Minnesota. Atwell majored in Communications.
