J. D. Folsom
Encyclopedia
John David "J. D." Folsom (born August 19, 1984 in Salmon, Idaho
) is an American football
linebacker
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Weber State.
Folsom has also been a member of the Chicago Bears
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
& Arizona Cardinals
.
in Salmon, Idaho
, where he played quarterback
and linebacker
and earned Second-team All-State honors as a senior. He was also a national qualified in team roping
for the school's high school rodeo
team.
in Ephraim, Utah
in 2003 before leaving to serve a two-year LDS church mission in Santa Cruz
, Bolivia
.
Upon his return in 2006, he helped Snow to an 11-1 record and a No. 2 ranking in the NJCAA
. He recorded 69.5 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and three sacks on his way to First-team All-WSFL
and Second-team NJCAA All-America
n honors. He was also a First-team NJCAA Academic All-American.
and became the team's starting strong side linebacker. He appeared in 11 games and recorded 73 tackles (30 solo), 5.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery. Following the season, Folsom earned First-team All-Big Sky
honors.
Folsom started six of the 12 games in which he played for the Wildcats as a senior in 2008, recording 76 tackles (27 solo), four tackles for a loss, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He, again, earned First-team All-Big Sky
honors.
in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft
. According to Folsom, he was surprised to be drafted and had already been preparing for a career after football, having been accepted to veterinary school
at Oklahoma State and Washington State
.
Folsom was waived by the Dolphins during final cuts on September 5 and re-signed to the team's practice squad the following day. He later was added to the 53-man roster on November 8, and saw his first game action the same day. He was waived again on November 13 and re-signed to the practice squad on November 18. Folsom was promoted to the active roster again on January 2, 2010 after linebacker
Channing Crowder
was placed on injured reserve
.
Folsom was resigned the Miami Dolphins
practice squad on December 1, 2010 but released on December 8, 2010.
practice squad from September 6, 2010 to September 23, 2010 when he was released.
practice squad on October 27, 2010, and later released on November 9, 2010.
practice squad on September 29, 2010. Folsom was later released October 11, 2010. Folsom was resigned on December 14, 2010. The Buccaneers released Folsom on July 29, 2011.
Salmon, Idaho
Salmon is a city in Lemhi County, Idaho, United States. The population was 3,122 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Lemhi County...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Weber State.
Folsom has also been a member of the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
& Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Folsom attended Salmon High SchoolSalmon High School
Salmon High School is a public secondary school located in Salmon, Idaho. Salmon High School is a part of the Salmon School District #291. The mission of the school is to "provide a safe, supportive environment for teaching and learning." Current enrollment at the High School is...
in Salmon, Idaho
Salmon, Idaho
Salmon is a city in Lemhi County, Idaho, United States. The population was 3,122 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Lemhi County...
, where he played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and earned Second-team All-State honors as a senior. He was also a national qualified in team roping
Team roping
Team roping also known as heading and heeling is a rodeo event that features a steer and two mounted riders. The first roper is referred to as the "header," the person who ropes the front of the steer, usually around the horns, but it is also legal for the rope to go around the neck, or go around...
for the school's high school rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
team.
Snow College
Folsom attended Snow CollegeSnow College
Snow College is a rural, two-year state college located in Ephraim, Utah, U.S. It offers certificates and associate degrees in a number of areas...
in Ephraim, Utah
Ephraim, Utah
Ephraim is a city in Sanpete County, Utah, United States. The population was 6,135 at the 2010 census, making it the largest city in Sanpete County. It is the location of Snow College and is located along U.S. Route 89.-History:Ephraim was founded in 1854...
in 2003 before leaving to serve a two-year LDS church mission in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Department
Santa Cruz, with an area of 370,621 km², is the largest of the nine constituent departments of Bolivia. In the 2001 census, it reported a population of 2,029,471. The capital is the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The state is one of the wealthiest states in Bolivia with huge reserves of...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
Upon his return in 2006, he helped Snow to an 11-1 record and a No. 2 ranking in the NJCAA
National Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
. He recorded 69.5 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and three sacks on his way to First-team All-WSFL
Western States Football League
The Western States Football League is a U.S. junior college football league for schools in the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The league is part of the National Junior College Athletic Association.-History:...
and Second-team NJCAA All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n honors. He was also a First-team NJCAA Academic All-American.
Weber State
Folsom transferred from Snow to Weber StateWeber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
and became the team's starting strong side linebacker. He appeared in 11 games and recorded 73 tackles (30 solo), 5.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery. Following the season, Folsom earned First-team All-Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
honors.
Folsom started six of the 12 games in which he played for the Wildcats as a senior in 2008, recording 76 tackles (27 solo), four tackles for a loss, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He, again, earned First-team All-Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
honors.
Pre-draft
At his Weber State pro day he measured 6-3, 230 pounds and ran a 4.59 forty-yard dash, had a veritcal jump of 32½" and broad jump of 9'8", a 3-Cone drill of 7.30 and did 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.Miami Dolphins
Folsom was drafted by the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. According to Folsom, he was surprised to be drafted and had already been preparing for a career after football, having been accepted to veterinary school
Veterinary school
A veterinary school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, which is involved in the education of veterinarians. To become a veterinarian one must first complete a veterinary degree A veterinary school should not be confused with a department of animal science...
at Oklahoma State and Washington State
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
.
Folsom was waived by the Dolphins during final cuts on September 5 and re-signed to the team's practice squad the following day. He later was added to the 53-man roster on November 8, and saw his first game action the same day. He was waived again on November 13 and re-signed to the practice squad on November 18. Folsom was promoted to the active roster again on January 2, 2010 after linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Channing Crowder
Channing Crowder
Randolph Channing Crowder, Jr. is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as an All-American...
was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
.
Folsom was resigned the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
practice squad on December 1, 2010 but released on December 8, 2010.
Chicago Bears
Folsom was a member of the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
practice squad from September 6, 2010 to September 23, 2010 when he was released.
Arizona Cardinals
Folsom was signed to the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
practice squad on October 27, 2010, and later released on November 9, 2010.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Folsom was signed to the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
practice squad on September 29, 2010. Folsom was later released October 11, 2010. Folsom was resigned on December 14, 2010. The Buccaneers released Folsom on July 29, 2011.