Dennis Fowlkes

Dennis Fowlkes (born March 11, 1961 in Columbus, Ohio) was an American football linebacker who played for the West Virginia Mountaineers collegiately. Fowlkes teamed up with Darryl Talley to make one of the greatest linebacking cores in Mountaineer history.

Collegiate career

Fowlkes arrived at West Virginia in 1979, and as a freshman he started with fellow-freshman Darryl Talley to play for the 5-6 Mountaineers. Fowlkes ended the season with 57 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 sack, and two tackles-for-a-loss. Fowlkes also recorded two interceptions for a total return yardage of 18 yards.

His sophomore season, Fowlkes had his best statistical season in his four-year college career. Although the Mountaineers finished the season 6-6, Fowlkes finally led the team (and beat Talley) in tackles on the season. Fowlkes ended the season with 150 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 5 tackles-for-a-loss, 1 sack, and 3 interceptions. His tackle and interception marks would be career-highs for Fowlkes.

As a junior in 1981, Fowlkes saw the Mountaineers go 9-3: their first winning record since Fowlkes had arrived in '79. Fowlkes didn't led the team defensively again (Darryl Talley did that), but he did produce good numbers. He ended the season with 120 tackles, a career-high 3 sacks, 5 tackles-for-a-loss, and 2 pass-breakups. This was the first (and only) season that Fowlkes failed to intercept a pass.

In his senior season of 1982, the Mountaineers once again went 9-3 and Fowlkes once again was second to Talley defensively. Fowlkes finished with 140 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 tackles-for-a-loss, 2 interceptions, and one pass-block. Although Fowlkes and Talley both finished with 140 tackles, Talley won it out with his 7 sacks among other statistics.

Dennis Fowlkes ended his collegiate career with a total of 467 career tackles, 7 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries, 16 tackles-for-a-loss, 7 interceptions, 2 pass break-ups, and 1 pass-block.