Folkerts attended Washburn University, where he played for the Washburn Ichabods football team from 2008 to 2011. Folkerts earned honorable mention All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) as a freshman in 2008.[2] As a sophomore in 2009, Folkerts was the Ichabods starting right tackle, earned second-team All-MIAA honors.[2] During Folkerts junior season, he moved to left tackle, where he was named a first-team All-MIAA selection.[2] His senior year, Folkerts was once again named a first-team All-MIAA selection,[3] Folkerts also earned www.d2football.com's 2nd Team All-American honors in 2011.[4]
Professional career
Pre-draft
Prior to the 2012 NFL draft, Folkerts was projected to be undrafted by NFLDraftScout.com. He was rated as the fifty-first-best offensive guard in the draft.[5] Folkerts was not invited to the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Folkerts attended the Kansas State Pro Day workout on March 27.[5]
Folkerts survived the Panthers final cuts, and was placed on the active roster for Week 1 as a center. After the Panthers started the season 0–2, Folkerts was waived. He was re-signed to Panthers' practice squad on September 21, 2013. On September 5, 2015, he was released by the Panthers with an injury settlement.[9]
San Francisco 49ers
On October 13, 2015, Folkerts was signed by the 49ers' practice squad.
St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams
On November 17, 2015, Folkerts was signed by the St. Louis Rams from the 49ers' practice squad.[10] On August 30, 2016, he was released by the Rams.[11]
Carolina Panthers (second stint)
On August 12, 2017, Folkerts re-signed with the Panthers.[12] He was waived on September 1, 2017.[13]
In October 2019, Folkerts was selected in the second round of the 2020 XFL draft by the St. Louis BattleHawks.[15] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[16]
