Micah Awe (born January 4, 1994) is a Nigerian professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and typically line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and so back up the defensive linemen. They play closer to the line ...

for the

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions playe ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

at Texas Tech. Awe has also been a member of the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Argonauts compete in the East Division (CFL), East Division of t ...

Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division (CFL), West division. They play thei ...

, Ottawa Redblacks,

Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: ''Les Alouettes de Montréal'') are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has disbanded twice and been re-established thrice. The Alouettes compe ...

, and

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium a ...

College career

Awe accumulated 171 solo tackles over 51 games for the Texas Tech Red Raiders including 77 stops as a senior and defensive captain in 2015.

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Awe was signed by the

following the team's rookie mini-camp in May 2016. After not making the final 53-man roster Awe was signed to the Buccaneers' practice squad on September 5, 2016. He was cut from the Buc's practice roster only 5 days later on September 10.

BC Lions (first stint)

On March 7, 2017, Awe and the

of the

agreed to a contract. In one season with the Lions, Awe recorded 54 defensive tackles, 16 special teams tackles and one forced fumble. On January 31, 2018 the Lions released Awe so he could sign with the

New York Jets

On February 1, 2018, Awe signed with the

of the NFL. He was waived by the Jets on April 28, 2018.

BC Lions (second stint)

On August 20, 2018, it was announced that Awe had re-signed with the BC Lions. In seven games, Awe made 31 defensive tackles, as well as three special teams tackles.

Toronto Argonauts

On February 13, 2019, Awe signed a one-year contract with the

. He played in ten games for the Argonauts in 2019, recording 44 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, one sack, and one interception.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

On February 18, 2020, it was announced that Awe had signed with the

to a two-year contract. However, he did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season and was released by the Blue Bombers on January 31, 2021.

Ottawa Redblacks

On February 12, 2021, Awe was signed by the Ottawa Redblacks. He played in all 14 regular season games where he had 74 defensive tackles and three sacks. He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 8, 2022.

BC Lions (third stint)

After the start of training camps around the league, Awe signed with the BC Lions for a third time on May 21, 2022. He played in one game for the Lions before asking for his release when it was apparent that he would not be a starter with the club. He was granted his release on June 23, 2022.

Montreal Alouettes

On July 6, 2022, immediately after the firing of head coach Khari Jones, general manager and new head coach Danny Maciocia announced that Awe had signed a contract with the

. After dressing as a backup in his first game with the team on July 14, 2022, against the

Edmonton Elks The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division (CFL), West Division and plays their home games at Commonw ...

, he started at linebacker for the next 12 games of the regular season and recorded 47 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. However, he suffered a shoulder injury and did not play in the final regular season game nor the two playoff games for the team that year. Awe became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 14, 2023.

Calgary Stampeders

On February 17, 2023, it was announced that Awe had signed with the

. In

2023 Catastrophic natural disasters in 2023 included the Lists of 21st-century earthquakes, 5th-deadliest earthquake of the 21st century 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, striking Turkey and Syria, leaving up to 62,000 people dead; Cyclone Freddy ...

, he played in all 18 regular season games and set career highs with 134 defensive tackles and three interceptions, along with six special teams tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble. The 134 defensive tackles was the third-most in a single season in CFL history. For his outstanding season, Awe was named a CFL Division and League All-Star for the first time in his career. In the 2024 season, Awe again played in 18 games, but had just 69 defensive tackles and four special teams tackles. He became a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

upon the expiry of his contract on February 11, 2025.

BC Lions (fourth stint)

On February 11, 2025, it was announced that Awe had signed again with the

to a two-year contract.

Personal life

Awe was born in Lagos, Nigeria but moved to the United States when he was three years old. He has three siblings. Awe's mother graduated with her masters from

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public university, public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship instit ...

and his father graduated with his masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington.

References

External links

BC Lions bioTexas Tech bioTampa Bay Buccaneers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Awe, Micah 1994 births Living people American football linebackers BC Lions players Calgary Stampeders players New York Jets players Nigerian players of American football Nigerian players of Canadian football Nigerian emigrants to the United States Ottawa Redblacks players Players of American football from Arlington, Texas Players of Canadian football from Texas Players of American football from Lagos Tampa Bay Buccaneers players Texas Tech Red Raiders football players Toronto Argonauts players Winnipeg Blue Bombers players Montreal Alouettes players Canadian football linebackers Players of Canadian football from Lagos