Career
• Missed only four games in four seasons.
• Finished his career with 250 stops.
• Consistent player filled every defensive stat category during his time at NIU.
2016
• Played in all 12 games, and started the last eight at outside linebacker.
• Tied for the team lead in tackles with 81; his 45 solo stops ranked second and led NIU in assists.
• Posted a career and team season high 17 stops at Ball State (10-1).
• Made 11 solo tackles with six assists, a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and a pass break up en route to MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• Also registered a sack versus Toledo (11-9) to go with eight tackles and two tackles for loss.
• His six TFLs on the season tied for third on the team.
• Recorded a double-digit tackle game with 11 at Western Michigan (10-8) with half a tackle for loss.
• Credited with eight tackles, seven solo, vs. Central Michigan (10-15) and six with a half tackle for loss, pass break up at Kent State (11-26)
2015
• Started all 13 games he played in at linebacker for the Huskies.
• Finished fourth on the team in tackles with 84, tallying 49 solo stops.
• Led NIU in tackles for loss on the year, with 8.5 TFLs for a net loss of 29 yards.
• Had three double-digit tackle games.
• Posted a new career high with 10 tackles at Miami (10-17) and matched that mark against Ohio (11-24) and Bowling Green (12-4).
• Notched his first career interception late in the narrow defeat at Ohio State (9-19), returning it for 19 yards.
• Also recovered a fumble against the Buckeyes with NIU in the lead.
• Tallied two games with 2.0 TFLs, first at Boston College (9-26) and again the following game at Central Michigan (10-3).
• Had his only quarterback sack of the year against Ball State (10-10).
• Forced a fumble in the victory at Miami (10-17).
• Recorded at least four tackles in every game he appeared in.
• Only Huskie defender in 2015 to have at least one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.
2014
• Played in all 14 games with a start in the MAC Championship Game victory over Bowling Green (12-5).
• Tallied a career-high eight stops in that 51-17 triumph over the Falcons.
• Finished sixth on the team with 65 total tackles for the season, 39 solo.
• Recorded a tackle in every contest with 13 multi-stop games and 10 games with at least four tackles.
• Third on the Huskies with 3.5 sacks for the season.
• Had career-high two sacks in Boca Raton Bowl versus Marshall (12-23).
• Totaled eight tackles for loss, good for fourth on the Huskies.
• Only NIU defender with multiple forced and recovered fumbles.
• Forced fumbles at Northwestern (9-6) and Western Michigan (11-28).
• Recovered fumbles against Presbyterian (8-28) and Ball State (11-5).
2013
• Played in 11 games and started one as a true freshman.
• Recorded 20 tackles and two tackles for loss on the season.
• Made his first career stop at Purdue (9-28).
• Saw action on special teams in addition to as a reserve linebacker.
• Notched a career-high six tackles with a tackle for loss against Eastern Michigan (10-26).
• Forced a fumble and made five tackles, including a tackle for loss at Massachusetts (11-2)
• Blocked a kick and made three stops in the MAC Championship game against Bowling Green (12-6).
High School
• Named first team all-state by the Illinois High School Association.
• Awarded the team's MVP award following the 2012 season.
• Earned all-area honorable mention honors from the Northwest Herald following his junior season.
• Made three tackles and returned a kickoff 24 yards in Prairie Ridge's 35-14 win over Peoria Richwoods in the 2011 Class 6A championship.
Personal
• Born Dec. 25, 1994, in Crystal Lake, Ill.
• Son of Mike Folliard and Sue Bailey.
• Organizational and corporate communications major.
FOLLIARD'S SINGLE GAME CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 11, vs. Ball State, 10-1-16
Sacks: 2.0, vs. Marshall, Boca Raton Bowl, 12-23-14
Tackles For Loss: 2.5, vs. Ball State, 10-1-16
Forced Fumbles: 1, four times, last at Miami (OH), 10-17-15
Fumble Recoveries: 1, four times, last at Ohio State, 9-19-15
Interceptions: 1, at Ohio State, 9-19-15
