Fola Fashola

Fola Fashola

Player Profile

Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Marshall, Texas
High School:
Marshall HS
Last College:
Kilgore JC
Height / Weight:
5-11 / 209
Position:
Linebacker
Birthdate:
03/23/1980
Experience:
1L
Pronunciation:
FALL-uh fuh-SHOW-la

Outstanding, high-energy player who made his much anticipated return to the defense in 2004 after nearly a year layoff from game competition...was primed for a stellar senior campaign last fall after a solid Division I debut in 2002...suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, however, while making a tackle in the final minutes of the Texas Tech game and missed the remainder of the 2003 season...is the vocal and emotional leader of the LB corps...establishes the defensive work ethic and level of intensity...was eager to get back on the field after having to sit out the spring season as well while waiting for the NCAA to approve his medical redshirt...was not able to work out with the team or participate in practices or drills until finally gaining his sixth-year exemption in May...coaches say he did an outstanding job with his rehab and could have played in the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl if needed...started the `04 season as he did last year, atop the depth chart opposite Nick Speegle at LOLB...combines a linebacker's power with a safety's cover skills and speed...has played both positions at UNM...showed minimal loss of speed following his injury...tremendous passion for the game and a dedicated student in the film room...2002 academic all-conference honoree...first name is pronounced FALL-uh...last name is pronounced Fuh-SHOW-luh.

2004 (SIXTH-YEAR SENIOR): Has been a relentless force, fueling the high pressure Lobo defense in 9 starts at left outside linebacker...strong all-MWC candidate who provides sideline-to-sideline range and is a wrecking ball blitzing up the middle or off the edge for the league's top-ranked defense...2nd on the team with a career-high 68 tackles (39 solo) and 2nd on the squad (T7th MWC) with 9.5 tackles for loss (7 solo, 5 assisted)...tied for 9th in the MWC with 4 sacks (3 solo, 2 assisted) and 2nd on the team with 12 QB hurries...also has one pass break up and 3 fumble recoveries (T2nd MWC)...37 tackles in his last 4 games (9.3 avg.)...at Colorado State...Outstanding performance to help lead UNM to its first win in Fort Collins since 1995...had 8 tackles, all solo, including a big blindside sack on the Rams' last gasp drive...tallied a team-best defensive score of 30 points...crushed CSU leading WR David Anderson as he reached for a pass, allowing the ball to sail into Lobo teammate Brandon Payne's arms for an INT as the Rams drove for the possible winning TD late in the 4th quarter...also recovered a fumble on the first play of the 2nd half to spark the UNM comeback...led a strong defensive effort which limited the Rams to their lowest rushing total in 5 years (35 yards)...vs. San Diego State...Strong effort to help lead an inspired Lobo defense which limited SDSU to 146 yards, 259 below its season average, and 1 late TD...notched 6 tackles and got in on two stops in the backfield, including a sack...also had 2 QB hurries in 65 snaps...at UNLV...Turned in one of his finest performances of the year to help the Lobo defense limit the Rebels to just 29 yards rushing (138 total) in the 2nd half...notched a team-high 9 tackles, including a career-best 8 solo stops in 68 snaps...had 2 solo tackles for loss (-7 yards) and recovered a fumble on the Rebels' final drive of the game to preserve the UNM victory...made perhaps the defensive play of the game earlier on the drive, stopping explosive UNLV TB Dominique Dorsey for a minimal gain on a broken play with a one-on-one tackle in the open field...Dorsey caught the desperation pass from the opposite sideline and had only 1 defender to beat on his way to what could have been the game-winning TD...Fashola, however, didn't bite on any open field moves and stopped the speedster for a harmless 4-yard gain...at Air Force...Fine job to lead a gutsy 2nd half effort by the Lobo defense...finished with a career-high 14 tackles (6 solo) in 64 snaps as UNM limited Air Force to just 43 rushing yards over the final 2 quarters...vs. Utah...Got in on four tackles, including a 7-yard sack of Alex Smith...also recovered a fumble and had a QB hurry in 66 snaps...at Oregon State...Tireless effort throughout the afternoon...never showed any hesitation in his first game back on astroturf since tearing his ACL a year earlier at Texas Tech...got in on 5 tackles in a 94 plays, his second straight game with 90+ snaps...had a TFL and pass break up, and did a fine job pressuring the pocket...notched 3 QB hurries, but had his big 3rd down sack nullified by a holding penalty...vs. Texas Tech...Finished with 7 tackles (5 solo) and a six-yard sack in an amazing 99 defensive and special teams snaps...did an outstanding job of exploding up the field off the blitz, often freeing up teammates on the pass rush...vs. Washington State...Picked right up where he left off, dazzling a national TV audience in his first game in nearly a year...was all over the field and doled out some of the biggest hits of the night as he recorded a career-high 11 tackles, including 3 for loss and a sack...also notched two QB hurries and showed outstanding strength, speed and range in his first game since Sept. 6 of 2003.

2003 (SENIOR): Was enjoying a tremendous start to the season and was poised for a breakout 2003 campaign...notched 11 tackles (9 solo), 4 tackles for loss and 3 sacks in his first two games...also had 3 pass deflections and a fumble recovery...Texas Tech...Career-high 8 tackles (6 solo), including a crushing 9-yard sack, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection in an all out performance in Lubbock...was a sideline-to-sideline force throughout the contest...suffered the season-ending knee injury when he rolled awkwardly on the Jones Stadium astroturf after chasing down scrambling Tech QB B.J. Symons late in the fourth quarter...Texas State...Three tackles, including a pair of sacks in his first career start...also broke up a pair of passes.

2002 (JUNIOR): 50 tackles (26 solo) and 9 tackles for loss (1.5 sacks) were tops among reserve players...played in all 14 games...played his best football down the final stretch of the season...made 22 tackles over the last 4 games (5.5/game) after averaging just 2.8 tackles/game in the first 10 contests of the year...UCLA (Las Vegas Bowl)...Recorded 5 tackles, including 3 solo stops, and one for loss...Wyoming...Another fine effort with 6 tackles, including 5 solo, in 43 plays off the bench...Colorado State...5 tackles, including 3 solo stops...BYU...Outstanding performance with 6 tackles off the bench, including two for loss...teamed with Kyle Coulter on a sack...San Diego State...Solid effort in 33 defensive snaps...pair of solo tackles, both for loss, and a pass deflection...New Mexico State...5 tackles, including 2 for loss...also recorded a crunching blindside sack, his first as a Lobo...21 defensive plays...Air Force...season-high 7 tackles including one for a loss of 3 yards.

KILGORE JC: First team all-conference linebacker in 2001...the Rangers finished second nationally with a 12-0 record, including a victory over Tyler JC in the Red River Bowl...season-high 10 tackles against Ranger College...JC teammate Demorrio Williams signed with Nebraska...played for coach Jim Rieves.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 1999 graduate of Marshall (Texas) High...played for coach William Huff...was a first team all-conference selection.

PERSONAL: Born March 23, 1980, in Sacramento, Calif...age is 24...mom is Merthan Floyd...enjoys reading...majoring in General Management.

CAREER HIGHS: Tackles: 14 vs. Air Force (10/8/04). Tackles For Loss: 2.5 vs. Washington State (9/3/04). Sacks: 2 vs. Texas State (8/30/03).

FASHOLA CAREER STATS

YearG/GSUTATTotalSacksTFLFCFRPBUInt.-Yds
200214/02624501.590010
2003*2/29211340130
20049/939296849.50310
Career25/1174551298.522.50450

* medical redshirt season

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