BIOGRAPHY
Frankie Luvu was born on September 19, 1996, in Tafuna, American Samoa. He is a linebacker in the NFL.
During high school career, Luvu attended Tafuna High School in American Samoa with current Cougar Destiny Vaeao. As a senior, in an eight-game season, he recorded 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, scored one touchdown and was named All-Territory and Special Teams Player of the Year. He was selected to play in the Samoa Bowl against an All-Star team from Hawaii. He was also kicked off, 90 percent of his kickoffs went for touchbacks, never lost a game in his high school career and helped THS win back-to-back championships the past two seasons, played safety for THS, was rated three stars by ESPN.com and Scout.com and also played midfielder for America Samoa U-17 soccer team.
As a freshman in 2014, he earned a varsity letter after appearing in final eight games, all on special teams, he tallied three tackles, tied for team lead with two forced fumbles, made collegiate debut with one tackle in win at Utah, recorded one tackle and forced a fumble against No. 15 Arizona and had a tackle and forced a fumble at No. 13 Arizona State.
Through his sophomore year in 2015, he played in 12 games on season, playing on special teams along with backup linebacker, he totaled 13 tackles, nine solo, had two tackles at Rutgers, at California, vs. Oregon State and vs. Stanford, and had his best game of season came in Sun Bowl victory over Miami, registering career-best four tackles, three solo.
On his junior season in 2016, he appeared in all 13 games, making eight starts, recording 46 tackles including seven for loss with 1.5 sacks, also forced a fumble and recovered another, made seven tackles including 1.5 for loss in win over Idaho, recorded first career sack win at No. 15 Stanford, made four tackles including one for loss in win at Arizona State, had four stops in win at Oregon State, recorded four tackles, 1.5 for loss and shared a sack in win over Arizona, had four tackles including one for loss in win over California, made career-high eight tackles and recovered a fumble at No. 12 Colorado and had four tackles including one for loss against Minnesota in the Holiday Bowl.
In the course of his senior season in 2017, Luvu was named All-Pac-12 Conference Honorable Mention, started all 13 games at RUSH linebacker, was fifth on team with 48 tackles, tied for 10th in the Pac-12 with 6.5 sacks, was second on team and tied for eighth in Pac-12 with 12.0 tackles-for-loss, recorded two interceptions, one pass breakup and recovered two fumbles, made five tackles with 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in win over Boise State, had three tackles, one for loss and returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown in win over Oregon State, made one tackle and a QB hurry in win over No. 5 USC, had career-high nine tackles with two for loss and one sack in win at Oregon, recorded two sacks in shutout of Colorado, made three tackles and recorded first career interception to seal win over No. 18 Stanford, had four tackles and a sack in win at Utah, made three tackles at No. 15 Washington, and had four tackles including 1.5 for loss and one interception against No. 18 Michigan State in the Holiday Bowl.
Luvu was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He was promoted to the active roster on September 8, 2018.
Luvu signed with the Carolina Panthers on March 23, 2021. He entered the season as a backup linebacker and core special teamer. He played in 16 games with four starts, recording 43 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and a blocked punt.
On February 17, 2022, Luvu signed a two-year contract extension with the Panthers.
