Albert Awachie
No. 41     Saskatchewan Roughriders
Born: (1992-10-07) October 7, 1992
Toronto, Ontario
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusNational
Position(s)FB
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight225 lb (102 kg)
UniversityToronto
CFL Draft2017 / Undrafted
Career history
As player
2017–presentSaskatchewan Roughriders
Career stats

Albert Awachie (born October 7, 1992) is a Canadian football fullback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played CIS football for the Toronto Varsity Blues.

Although he rarely touches the ball, he is a key blocker and special teams player recognized by coaches and teammates for his tenacity and fearlessness.[1][2]

Early life

Awachie was born in Toronto, Ontario on October 7, 1992. Being the youngest of five siblings instilled in him a drive and work ethic that was reaffirmed by his parents, Raphael and Florence, who had emigrated from Nigeria.[2] While in the first grade, he moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to stay with his mother, spending the summers back in Toronto with his father.[2] Although he grew up mostly playing soccer, his older brother Martin invited him to join the football team.[2] He played multiple positions at Rocky Mountain High School, even picking up all-league honors as a defensive lineman.[2][3] After graduation, he moved back to Toronto.[2]

College career

Awachie played CIS football for the Toronto Varsity Blues from 2013 to 2016, beginning as a wide receiver and later playing some defensive back.[2] Initially joining as a walk-on,[1] he played in 22 games in his college career, registering 14 receptions for 145 yards as well as 22 tackles on defense.[4] He missed the entire 2015 season after he dislocated his knee, tearing the bicep tendon, LCL and ACL,[5] and doctors told him there was a 50 percent chance he would be able to return to football.[2] After ten months of rehab he was able to come back his senior season and rank third on the team with 13 receptions and 134 yards.[2][4]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2017 CFL draft, Awachie signed a free-agent deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in May.[6] He made his professional debut in the 2017 season opener on June 22 against the Montreal Alouettes.[7]

Awachie spent his first two years as a backup to fullback Spencer Moore on the depth chart,[8][9] appearing in 12 games without registering a carry.[7] Bouncing between the main and practice rosters, he also occasionally filled in for injuries on special teams.[2][10] Moore was traded to the Montreal Alouettes in December 2018, opening the door for more playing time for Awachie.[2] In 2019 he stepped into a larger role on special teams and established himself as a reliable blocker for an offense that ran for over 2,000 yards and a league-best 26 touchdowns.[1][11] He recorded his first-ever CFL statistic in week 2: a four-yard reception against the Ottawa Redblacks.[7][1] He got his second catch in week 16, an eight-yard pass from Cody Fajardo against the Toronto Argonauts in Toronto with his parents in attendance.[1]

He was signed to a two-year extension in January 2020.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Harder, Greg (October 1, 2019). "Albert Awachie is an unsung hero for the Saskatchewan Roughriders". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Gray, Britton (October 5, 2019). "Despite significant knee injury, Riders' Albert Awachie never gave up". paNOW. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Colorado: All-Front Range Conference Football Team". MaxPreps. March 27, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Toronto Varsity Blues bio
  5. ↑ Hewitson, Eric (January 25, 2016). "Bigger, faster, stronger after injury". themedium.ca. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Riders sign Bladek, five more from 2017 draft". CFL.ca. May 26, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 "Albert Awachie". CFL.ca. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ McCormick, Murray (June 18, 2017). "Riders switch gears from pre-season to regular season". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  9. ↑ Hamilton, Ian (February 23, 2018). "The Roughriders have been busy". Saskatchewan Roughriders. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  10. ↑ Hamilton, Ian (June 20, 2018). "The Riders hit the road to face the Redblacks". Saskatchewan Roughriders. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Riders sign Awachie to two-year extension". CFL.ca. January 31, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
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