Avery Williams (linebacker) facts for kids
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| Position: | Middle Linebacker |
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| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 2, 1994 Baltimore, Maryland |
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Baltimore (MD) Archbishop Curley |
| College: | Temple (2012–2016) |
| Undrafted: | 2017 |
| Career history | |
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| Roster status: | Retired |
| CFL status: | American |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Player stats at CFL.ca | |
Avery A. Williams Sr. (born September 2, 1994) is a retired American professional football player. He played as a Middle Linebacker. Avery played for teams like the Ottawa Redblacks and Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also had a short time with the Houston Texans after playing college football at Temple University.
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Early Life and High School Football
Avery Williams grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He played many different positions in high school. At Archbishop Curley High School, he played as a running back, wide receiver, linebacker, and defensive back.
College Football Career
After high school, Avery went to Temple University. He played college football for the Temple Owls from 2013 to 2016. In 2012, he took a "redshirt season." This means he practiced with the team but did not play in games. It allowed him to gain experience and keep an extra year of eligibility.
In his final year, 2016, Avery became a full-time starter. He played as a strong side linebacker. He played in 14 games that season. He made 66 tackles, which means he stopped the opposing team's players many times. He also had nine tackles for losses, two sacks, and caused two fumbles. He recovered two fumbles as well. Because of his great performance in 2016, Avery was named to the All-AAC Second Team.
Professional Football Journey
Avery Williams started his professional career in 2017. He played for teams in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Time with the Houston Texans
The Houston Texans signed Avery Williams on May 12, 2017. He joined them as an undrafted free agent. This means he was not chosen in the main NFL draft but was signed afterward. He was with the Texans for a short time. They released him on September 2, 2017.
Playing for the Ottawa Redblacks
On January 8, 2018, Avery signed with the Ottawa Redblacks in the CFL. He made it onto the team's main roster after training camp. His first professional game was on June 21, 2018. It was against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
In his third game, on July 6, 2018, he made his first start. This game was against the Montreal Alouettes. On August 17, 2018, Avery scored his first touchdown. He picked up a fumbled ball and ran 43 yards to score. This happened in a game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In his first year, 2018, Avery played in 17 regular season games. He started in 11 of them. He had 43 defensive tackles and six special teams tackles. He also had one sack, caused two fumbles, and scored one touchdown. He played in two playoff games that year. This included the Eastern Conference final and the 106th Grey Cup.
In 2019, Avery started the season very strong. He made 69 defensive tackles in the first 11 games. However, he then got an injury that ended his season early. He was nominated for two big awards for the Redblacks that year. These were the CFL's Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player awards. The 2020 CFL season was canceled, so he did not play that year. He re-signed with the Redblacks on February 3, 2021.
In the 2021 season, which was shorter due to the pandemic, Avery played in 13 games. He had 89 defensive tackles, two sacks, and caused one fumble. He also got his first career interception. His best game was on August 7, 2021. He made a team record-tying 14 defensive tackles. He also had one sack in a win against the Edmonton Elks. At the end of the 2021 season, he was again named the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player. He was also chosen as a CFL East All-Star.
In the 2022 season, Avery played in 18 games. He had a career-high 92 defensive tackles. He also had two special teams tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. He made one interception and recovered one fumble. Avery was a star player for Ottawa again in 2022. After the season, his contract ended. He left the Redblacks on February 11, 2023. This allowed him to find a new team.
Joining the Montreal Alouettes
On February 11, 2023, Avery Williams signed a contract with the Montreal Alouettes. In the 2023 season, he played in nine regular season games. He started in six of those games. He made 34 defensive tackles and three special teams tackles. He also had one pass knockdown. His contract with the Alouettes ended on February 13, 2024.
Personal Life
Avery Williams was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents are Willinette and Anthony Williams. He is married to Precious, and they have a son named Avery Jr.
