Brian Folkerts, former WU lineman, back in NFL with Carolina Panthers

Former Washburn All-American offensive lineman Brian Folkerts is headed back to the NFL with the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers announced Saturday the signing of Folkerts, who played in 26 games for Carolina from 2013-14, primarily at center. He also played in two games for the Rams in 2015 but was not on an NFL roster in 2016.

At Washburn, Folkerts earned All-MIAA honors in each of his four seasons with the Ichabods from 2008-11 and was a first-team all-conference pick his junior and senior seasons. He was named second-team All-American by D2Football.com and third-team All-American by Football Gazette after his senior season, in which he helped the Bods to a 10-3 season and their first NCAA playoff win in program history.

Folkerts joins Michael Wilhoite (Seattle Seahawks) and Cody Heiman (Green Bay Packers) as Washburn products currently on NFL rosters.