Luke Fortner has had an incredible journey to become starting NFL center

Former UK all-American punter Max Duffy says he doesn’t want to praise former roommate Luke Fortner too much but he is proud of what Fortner is doing in the NFL.

Fortner, a third-round draft pick, became the first rookie in Jacksonville Jaguars history to start at center in the season-opening game. Fortner got a chance to win the starting spot after long-time center Brandon Linder retired after last season.

He played every snap in Jacksonville’s first two games and is slated to start again Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

“It’s really pretty incredible what he has done,” Duffy said.Fortner moved from guard to center at UK for the 2021 season. He was not on any NFL draft lists when the season began but played so well for 10-3 UK that he made a name for himself with NFL personnel.

“I had a conversation with him in our house when we lived together. He had decided he did not want to play another year and he had all those degrees, so he thought he would just use one of them,” Duffy said.

However, Fortner eventually decided to take advantage of an extra COVID season.

“I told him he might as well give it one more shot. I said he might never get to put a helmet and shoulder pads on again,” Duffy said. “So he decided he wanted that one more year knowing he would probably never play again.”

Instead, Duffy says Fortner may now get paid to play another 10 years or more.

“It’s funny how it all worked out so well for him,” Duffy said. “But no one works harder than he does. It’s all that work he did off the field that helped him so much. Starting in the NFL is a pretty crazy turnaround for a guy who almost didn’t play that extra year in college. It’s really an unbelievable story.”