Northern Illinois University Athletics

Career
• Played in 56 of 58 games for NIU since the start of the 2020 season.
• Accounted for 212 tackles, 103 solo with 11.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. 
• Broke up seven passes, forced a fumble and intercepted two passes.
• Concluded his journey from walk-on safety to team leading linebacker. 

2024
• Named to Phil Steele’s All-MAC fourth team as a consistent and key part of NIU’s Top 10 ranked defense.
• Started every game at linebacker and his 60 tackles were second on the team, one behind fellow linebacker Christian Fuhrman. 
• Totaled 2.5 tackles for loss and broke up a pair of tackles. 
• Made at least four tackles in a game nine times on the season.
• Contributed a season-high eight tackles in NIU’s historic win at No. 5 Notre Dame (9-7).
• Accounted for six tackles with a half tackle for loss at N.C. State (9-28).
• Finished his Huskie career with five tackles in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win over Fresno State (12-23).
• Recorded his second career interception at Western Michigan (11-6) along with a pass break up. 
• Had seven tackles at Ball State (10-26) and six with a tackle for loss versus Buffalo (9-21).
• Made five tackles in win at Bowling Green (10-12) and added a pass breakup.

2023
• Played in every game and started nine at linebacker. 
• Second on the team in tackles with 61 and his 41 solo stops were tops on the team.
• NIU nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation’s top walk-on. 
• Broke up three passes and tallied one tackle for loss.  
• Led NIU in tackles with a season-high eight in the Huskies’ win over Eastern Michigan (10-21) and added two pass breakups. 
• Made a team-high seven stops, including a season best six solo, at Akron (10-7).
• Led NIU with seven tackles at Toledo (9-30). 
• Recorded five tackles with a tackle for loss versus Tulsa (9-23). 
• Had four tackles and a pass breakup at Nebraska (9-16). 
• Totaled five tackles versus Southern Illinois (9-9). 
•  Earned the Hard Hat Award for the NIU defense following spring practices, given to the player who came to work and gave his best every day.

2022
•    Played in 10 games and started the last four at linebacker.
•    Fourth on the team in tackles with a career high 52, 20 solo, and two pass break-ups.
•    Opened the season with nine tackles in NIU’s win over Eastern Illinois (9-1).
•    Made a career-high 16 tackles against Central Michigan (11-2), the most by a Huskie in 2022.
•    Forced a fumble and broke up a pass versus the Chippewas.
•    Tallied four tackles with a tackle for loss versus Toledo (10-8).
•    Recorded six tackles in each of the last three games of the season with a season and career high six solo stops in NIU’s win at Western Michigan (11-9).
•    Added a four-yard tackle for loss during NIU’s fourth quarter comeback versus the Broncos. 
•    Did not play in the Vanderbilt (9-17) or Kentucky (9-24) games.

2021
•    Saw action in every game playing at the hybrid safety/linebacker position and on special teams. 
•    Finished the year with 39 tackles, 20 solo; his six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks ranked third on the team. 
•    Made his first career start at Kent State (11-3) and started the MAC Championship (12-4) and Cure Bowl (12-17) contests. 
•    Scored his first career touchdown on a 59-yard interception return versus Eastern Michigan (10-2) to give NIU a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter.
•    Played his top game in the MAC Championship versus Kent State (12-4) with a team-high 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a half sack. 
•    Recorded four tackles with a four-yard sack at the Cure Bowl versus Coastal Carolina (12-17).
•    Had four solo tackles, including a tackle for loss, at Kent State (11-3). 
•    Tallied two solo tackles with a quarterback sack at Buffalo (11-17).
•    Made five tackles versus Bowling Green (10-16) and three at Central Michigan (10-23).
•    Collected at least one tackle in each of the last 11 games of the season.
•    Contributed on multiple special teams units, including kickoff coverage and punt return.  

2020
• Appeared in all six games, primarily on special teams as a true freshman
• Participated on kickoff and kickoff return teams.

HIGH SCHOOL
• Three-time letterwinner.
• Selected team captain as a junior and senior.
• Named to the IHSA Class 7A All-State Football Team and the Daily Herald Northwest Suburbs All-Area Team in 2019.
• Played tight end and defensive back for the Warriors.
• Set the school record in touchdown receptions in a season with 13 (2019).
• Tallied 44 receptions for 905 yards and a 20.5 yards per catch his senior year, all single season school records.
• A three-year starter, he recorded six interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles in 2019.
• Amassed 95 career tackles.
• Two-sport athlete, also ran track for the Warriors
 
PERSONAL
• Born January 26 in Arlington Heights, Ill.
• Son of Kathy Dolphin and Alex Voltaire.
• Majoring in communications with an emphasis on media studies.