LINKS: Cougs Alum Frankie Luvu Named To Have Breakout Year with Washington Commanders

Joe Londergan | Aug 15, 2024

Dec 17, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu (49) after the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Washington State football alum Frankie Luvu has had a decent start to his NFL career with six full seasons under his belt already. He spent the last three with the Carolina Panthers, where he started 35 games and totaled 279 tackles with 37 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.

This offseason, he signed with the Washington State Commanders in free agency for a reported three-year deal worth approximately $31,000,000.

As NFL preseason continues, Luvu was named by CBS Sports' Jared Dubin this week as the Commanders' best breakout player for the upcoming season.

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"In Dan Quinn's defense, he has a chance to really shine as a versatile second-level playmaker -- especially if Quinn gets creative with his abilities as a blitzer," Dubin wrote.

At Washington State from 2014 to 2017, Luvu recorded 110 tackles, with 19 for a loss including eight sacks. He also had two interceptions, recovered three fumbles and forced two fumbles. Luvu, now 27 years old, is listed at the top of the Commanders' depth chart at outside linebacker to start the season. The NFL season begins for the Commanders on September 8 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.