Zack Follett

Last updated

Zack Follett
Zach follett.jpg
Follett in August 2008
No. 49
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1987-07-03) July 3, 1987 (age 36)
Clovis, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school: Clovis
College: California
NFL draft: 2009  / Round: 7 / Pick: 235
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:31
Fumble recoveries:1
Passes defended:1
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Zachary Follett (born July 3, 1987) is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.

Contents

College career

Follett began his career in football at California as a middle linebacker. He switched over to weak-side linebacker as a sophomore and then eventually to strong-side linebacker as a junior. He started 24 of 49 games over the course of his career and finished 10th on California's tackle list with 245. He set a school record and tied the Pac-10 Conference record for forced fumbles with 13. He finished fifth at California in stops behind the line of scrimmage with 51.0. Included in that total were 23.5 sacks which put him in sixth place on the school's career sacks list. Follett represented California at the 2009 Senior Bowl.

Professional career

Follett was drafted 235th overall in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft. [1] Follett was released by the Lions during the preseason cuts on September 5, 2009. A day later, he was signed to the team's practice squad. He was activated from the practice squad on October 6, 2009, to help on special teams and made his NFL debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His first NFL tackle was on Danny Amendola of the St. Louis Rams, which was named hit of the week by the NFL Network.

On October 17, 2010, Follett was injured while covering a kickoff return against the New York Giants and had to be removed from the field. After the game the team released a statement saying "There is no evidence at this point of a fracture of the cervical spine. He has movement in all four extremities. Zack will remain here tonight and will continue to undergo extensive tests and evaluation." [2] Follett was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. [3]

On August 2, 2011, Follett was released by the Lions.

Post-playing career

On November 7, 2011, Follett joined the Channel 4 broadcast team in London for its Sunday night coverage of the NFL. He was in England for a brief visit to preach as part of a Christian mission and to work with youths and to publicize American football. For the next two Sundays he joined the Sky Sports broadcast team for its coverage of the NFL.

Zack joined the Sky Sports broadcast team again January 7–8, 2012, for its coverage of the NFL Wild Card Weekend.

Personal life

Zack is the son of Naomi and Bob Follett. He graduated with a major in American Studies. Zack's dog, a Shiba Inu named Zakarian, has been featured on Animal Planet's Dogs 101 . Zack currently resides in Fresno, California, where he owns a small chain of coffee shops called Kuppa Joy, located in the greater Fresno area. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Barnett</span> American football player (born 1981)

Nicholas Alexander Barnett is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He has played professionally for the NFL's Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins. With the Packers, he won Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is currently the head coach at Del Norte Highschool in San Diego, CA.

Teddy Lehman is an American former college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for the University of Oklahoma, and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American. The Detroit Lions chose him in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and he also played for the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL, and the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League (UFL).

Darnell Bing is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunter Hillenmeyer</span> American football player (born 1980)

Hunter Taverner Hillenmeyer is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft and played for the Chicago Bears from 2003 to 2010. Hillenmeyer attended high school at Montgomery Bell Academy and played college football at Vanderbilt University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haloti Ngata</span> American football player (born 1984)

Etuini Haloti Ngata is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks, earning consensus All-American honors. Ngata was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, and was voted to the Pro Bowl five times. Ngata played for the Ravens for nine seasons before being traded to the Detroit Lions before the 2015 NFL season. Ngata was also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles for one season in 2018 before retiring.

Rocky Michael Boiman is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He currently works as a football color commentator for ESPN College Football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Carpenter (American football)</span> American football player (born 1983)

Robert Joseph Carpenter III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He also played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins, the Detroit Lions and the New England Patriots.

Spencer Rhett Havner [HAY-vner] is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker and tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Havner was also a member of the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. He won Super Bowl XLV with the Packers over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Lee</span> American football player (born 1986)

Sean Patrick Lee is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He made two Pro Bowls and the 2016 All-Pro Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clay Matthews III</span> American football player (born 1986)

William Clay Matthews III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). The six-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro played primarily with the Green Bay Packers. He is the all-time official sack leader for the Green Bay Packers.

Tyrone McKenzie is an American football coach and former linebacker. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He debuted for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010 and also played for the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at South Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis Lewis</span> American football player (born 1988)

Travis Lewis is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma, and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round, 223rd overall of the 2012 NFL Draft. He also spent time with the Minnesota Vikings during the 2016 offseason.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeAndre Levy</span> American football player (born 1987)

DeAndre Levy is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Wisconsin, and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Perry (linebacker)</span> American football player (born 1990)

Nicholas Joel Perry is a former American football outside linebacker. He played college football at USC. Perry was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Bostic</span> American football player (born 1991)

Jonathan Earl Bostic II is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Florida and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Bostic has also been a member of the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders, and New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Kendricks</span> American football player (born 1992)

Eric-Nathan Marvin Kendricks is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins. As a senior in 2014, he won the Butkus Award as the nation's top collegiate linebacker. Kendricks was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Jarrad Davis is an American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalen Reeves-Maybin</span> American football player (born 1995)

Jalen Ahmad Reeves-Maybin is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee. He was drafted in the 4th round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Lions.

Charles Washington is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Fresno State and signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent after the 2016 NFL Draft.

James Houston IV is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida before transferring to Jackson State.

References

  1. "2009 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. Follett Taken to Local Hospital for Evaluation Detroit Lions Official Site October 17, 2010
  3. "Lions LB Follett placed on season-ending injured reserve". NFL.com. October 27, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
  4. "Thumbs up, thumbs down: Kuppa Joy jolts the neighborhood with exuberant mural". Fresno Bee. September 30, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2020.