Moise Fokou
Encyclopedia
Moise Fokou (born August 28, 1985) is an American football
linebacker
for the Philadelphia Eagles
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was selected by the Eagles in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Maryland
and Frostburg State
.
to parents Jean-Marie and Louise Takougne. In 1990, his parents moved to Rockville, Maryland
. His brother, Achille Kolla, played as a defensive back
for Catholic
. Fokou attended the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
in Bethesda, Maryland
and Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland
, where he played football as a running back
and linebacker. There, during his senior year in 2003, he was named an All-IAC
and Washington Post second-team All-Met player. He was also named the conference most valuable player
. In 2008, Fokou took the citizenship test after three years on the waiting list.
. On the football team, he saw action in all ten games and recorded the second-most tackle
s on the team with 70. He had 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sack
s, and blocked two kicks.
In 2005, Fokou transferred to the University of Maryland
, where he was required by NCAA rules to sit out for one season. He was twice named the scout team
defensive player of the week prior to the games against Virginia
and Boston College
. In 2006, he played in all 13 games as a reserve "Will" linebacker behind Erin Henderson
and in a role on special teams. He recorded 21 tackles and tied for fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC) in forced fumbles with 0.18 per game. In 2007, Fokou started all 13 games at the "Sam" linebacker position. He ranked third on the team with 84 tackles including 7.0 for loss. Fokou also forced one fumble and recorded one interception.
In 2008, he saw action in all 13 games, including 12 starts, as a Sam linebacker. He recorded 77 total tackles, including 41 solo and 12.0 for loss, five sacks, two passes broken up, and one quarterback hurry. Fokou led the team in sacks and ranked fifth in total tackles. He accounted for the most sacks by a Maryland linebacker since Shawne Merriman
in 2004.
Fokou played in the 2009 Under Armour
Senior Bowl
as a member of the South squad.
. The NFL Draft Scout assessed him as the 31st-ranked out of 195 outside linebacker prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft
.
as the 230th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
. He played all 16 games and won the starting strong-side linebacker job for the final four games. He ended the season with 39 tackles.
After starting for most of the season at strong-side linebacker in 2011, Fokou was placed on injured reserve
on November 29 due to a sprained ankle suffered during a week 12 loss to the New England Patriots
.
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...
for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He was selected by the Eagles 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 Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and Frostburg State
Frostburg State University
Frostburg State University is a four-year university located on a campus in Frostburg, Maryland, in Western Maryland, and is part of the University System of Maryland. FSU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.-History:...
.
Early years
Fokou was born in CameroonCameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
to parents Jean-Marie and Louise Takougne. In 1990, his parents moved to Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
. His brother, Achille Kolla, played as a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for Catholic
Catholic Cardinals football
The Catholic University Cardinals football team represents the Catholic University of America in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III college football competition as a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference . The team played its first game in 1895 and was a major college...
. Fokou attended the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School is a Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, public school named for two of the towns it serves along with Kensington and Silver Spring, Maryland. It is located at 4301 East-West Highway, in Bethesda, an unincorporated community in Montgomery County...
in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
and Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland
Potomac, Maryland
Potomac is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named for the nearby Potomac River. The population was 44,822 at the 2000 census. The Potomac area is known for its very affluent and highly-educated residents. In 2009 CNNMoney.com listed Potomac as the fourth...
, where he played football as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and linebacker. There, during his senior year in 2003, he was named an All-IAC
Interstate Athletic Conference
The Interstate Athletic Conference is an all-boys high school sports league made up of six private high schools in the Washington, D.C., area, competing in twelve varsity sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track...
and Washington Post second-team All-Met player. He was also named the conference most valuable player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. In 2008, Fokou took the citizenship test after three years on the waiting list.
College career
In 2004, Fokou attended Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg State University
Frostburg State University is a four-year university located on a campus in Frostburg, Maryland, in Western Maryland, and is part of the University System of Maryland. FSU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.-History:...
. On the football team, he saw action in all ten games and recorded the second-most tackle
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
s on the team with 70. He had 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s, and blocked two kicks.
In 2005, Fokou transferred to the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, where he was required by NCAA rules to sit out for one season. He was twice named the scout team
Scout team
In sports, the scout team, also referred to as a practice team, taxi squad, practice squad or practice roster, is a group of players on a team whose task is to emulate future opponents for the featured players. Frequently used in American or Canadian Football, these teams consist of less...
defensive player of the week prior to the games against Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and Boston College
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
. In 2006, he played in all 13 games as a reserve "Will" linebacker behind Erin Henderson
Erin Henderson
Erin Henderson is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Maryland.-Early years:...
and in a role on special teams. He recorded 21 tackles and tied for fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC) in forced fumbles with 0.18 per game. In 2007, Fokou started all 13 games at the "Sam" linebacker position. He ranked third on the team with 84 tackles including 7.0 for loss. Fokou also forced one fumble and recorded one interception.
In 2008, he saw action in all 13 games, including 12 starts, as a Sam linebacker. He recorded 77 total tackles, including 41 solo and 12.0 for loss, five sacks, two passes broken up, and one quarterback hurry. Fokou led the team in sacks and ranked fifth in total tackles. He accounted for the most sacks by a Maryland linebacker since Shawne Merriman
Shawne Merriman
Shawne DeAndre Merriman is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted 12th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2005 NFL Draft. On November 2, 2010, the Chargers waived Merriman...
in 2004.
Fokou played in the 2009 Under Armour
Under Armour
Under Armour is an American sports clothing and accessories company. The company is a supplier of a wide range of sportswear and casual apparel mainly focusing on hi-tech sportswear for professional athletes...
Senior Bowl
2009 Senior Bowl
The 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl was an all-star college football exhibition game featuring players from the 2008 college football season, and prospects for the 2009 Draft of the professional National Football League ....
as a member of the South squad.
Pre-draft
He also participated in the 2009 NFL CombineNFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
. The NFL Draft Scout assessed him as the 31st-ranked out of 195 outside linebacker prospects for 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...
.
| Pre-draft measureables | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | Weight | 40-yd dash 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20 ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
Broad | BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-1⅛ * | 233 * | 4.65 * | 1.53 * | 2.70 * | 4.28 * | 7.09 * | 33" ** | 10'01" | 21 ** | 22 * | |||||||||
| * represents NFL Combine NFL Combine The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general... **represents Maryland Pro Day |
|||||||||||||||||||
Philadelphia Eagles
Fokou was selected in the seventh round by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as the 230th overall pick in 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 all 16 games and won the starting strong-side linebacker job for the final four games. He ended the season with 39 tackles.
After starting for most of the season at strong-side linebacker in 2011, Fokou 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...
on November 29 due to a sprained ankle suffered during a week 12 loss to the New England Patriots
2011 New England Patriots season
The 2011 New England Patriots season is the 42nd season for the team in the National Football League and 52nd season overall.The Patriots dedicated their 2011 season to the memory of Myra Kraft, the wife of owner Robert Kraft, who died on July 20, 2011 after a long fight against cancer...
.
External links
- Philadelphia Eagles bio
- Fokou passing camp tests, Rivals.comRivals.comRivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, August 16, 2008. - Terp tries for hold, The Washington TimesThe Washington TimesThe Washington Times is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. It was founded in 1982 by Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon, and until 2010 was owned by News World Communications, an international media conglomerate associated with the...
, August 15, 2008.