Q&A with Luke Tenuta

By: 
Bill Huber
Correspondent

The Packers claimed offensive tackle Luke Tenuta off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 17. He was a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft by the Buffalo Bills, so Green Bay is his third team during his rookie season.

Q: What’s it like joining a new team during the middle of the season?

A: My pops (Jon Tenuta) was a college coach, so I moved six times as a kid, so you get used to it. Obviously, I didn’t have to move in the middle of the fall and I was fortunate enough that I would get to stay through the school year. But I definitely got used to moving as a kid, so you pick up and go and go where the football is.

Q: Is it nice having a familiar face here with Yosh Nijman, who played with you at Virginia Tech?

A: It’s awesome. It’s just like when he was a senior and I was a redshirt (freshman). I came in and learned from him a lot, so it’s the same thing pretty much — getting to learn from him. It’s awesome having him right next to me (in the locker room) and for him to show me around all that stuff.

Q: Funny how it works out, that there was an empty locker right next to him.

A: I came in yesterday, I was like, ‘No way!’ It was awesome. I think in college I was on the same block as him. Now we’re right next to each other. So, it’s awesome.

Q: He went undrafted in 2019 and didn’t play here until last season. So, is that a playbook you can follow, and have you followed his career?

A: Oh, yeah, definitely. All through college, watching him develop and then get the opportunity last year and then keep building on that, so it’s been really cool to watch him.

Q: You mentioned your dad earlier. Your mom played college basketball and both your brothers were college athletes. What was it like growing up in such an athletic home?

A: It was cool. Everyone played sports. My mom and pops played sports at Virginia, and my two older brothers, one played college football and the other one’s still a professional baseball player. Sports were everything.

As much as we moved with my pops being a college coach, sports helped us make friends and all that good stuff. So, it was awesome growing up with an athletic, competitive family.

Q: I remember talking to T.J. Watt at the Scouting Combine about growing up with J.J. Watt and Derek Watt and how they fought a lot as kids because they were so competitive. How about you with your brothers?

A: Oh, yeah. It was exactly that. Both my front teeth — most of my teeth — knocked out as a kid because of my brothers.

Q: Seriously?

A: Oh, yeah, them throwing me around. It was awesome, though. Now I’m bigger than them so payback.

Q: Awesome?

A: Yeah, yeah. Them being older than me, I got to hang out with the older kids in the neighborhood and got to play with them, so I always thought it was sweet.

Q: So, who has the bragging rights now?

A: That’s tough because we all golf, too. I always say Matt, my middle brother plays pro baseball. He’s obviously the best baseball player. He’s a left-handed pitcher so he’s got that.

We usually go through who won in golf. We play a lot of golf, so whoever wins golf is the best athlete at the time. But I’d definitely say all of us have different things we can brag about, but it always comes down to the golf course.

Q: Who’s the best golfer?

A: It used to be always Matt. Now, my oldest brother, Zach, has gotten better and I’ve been getting better. I broke 80 for the first time last summer so we’re getting better.

Q: What’s the opportunity here with the Packers?

A: Whatever they need me to do, coming in here, learn the offensive scheme and do anything they need me to do.

Q: What’s it been like dealing with the ups and downs of being drafted, released and so on?

A: Yeah, it’s definitely been an experience. I’m glad to be part of the journey.

AT A GLANCE

Number: 78

Age: 23

Season: Rookie

College: Virginia Tech