Avon Cobourne facts for kids
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| Born: | March 6, 1979 Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Career information | |
| CFL status | American |
| Position(s) | RB |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| College | West Virginia |
| High school | Holy Cross |
| NFL draft | 2003 / Undrafted |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 2014–2015 | Saskatchewan Roughriders (RB) |
| 2016 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (RB) |
| As player | |
| 2003–2004 | Detroit Lions |
| 2004 | Cologne Centurions |
| 2005 | Miami Dolphins* |
| 2006–2010 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 2011–2012 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| *Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| CFL All-Star | 2009 |
| CFL East All-Star | 2008, 2009, 2012 |
| Records | Collegiate:
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| Career stats | |
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Avon Cobourne (born March 6, 1979) is an American former professional football player. He was a talented running back in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). Before turning pro, he played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Cobourne became a star player for the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL. In 2008, he gained 1,557 all-purpose yards and was named an All-Star. His amazing 2009 season included 1,214 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He was recognized as a CFL All-Star and won the MVP award in the 2009 Grey Cup.
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Early Life and High School Football
Avon Cobourne grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He went to Holy Cross High School in Delran Township, New Jersey. In high school, he was a standout football player. During his junior year, he rushed for 1,400 yards and scored 32 touchdowns.
College Football Career
Avon Cobourne played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers from 1999 to 2002. He quickly became a key player for the team.
Starting Strong: Freshman Year
In 1999, Cobourne started playing right away as a freshman. He was the top freshman rusher in the nation. He gained 1,139 rushing yards, which was the most in the Big East. He also set a new record for freshman rushing yards at West Virginia. One of his best games was against Pitt, where he rushed for 210 yards.
Continuing Success: Sophomore and Junior Years
In 2000, Cobourne continued to be a strong runner, even though he dealt with some injuries. He finished among the top 20 rushers in the nation. He gained 1,028 yards and scored 6 touchdowns.
By his junior year in 2001, Cobourne had his third straight season with over 1,000 rushing yards. He gained a career-high 1,298 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was named the team's MVP. He was also the only player to rush for over 100 yards against the national champion Miami Hurricanes.
Record-Breaking Senior Season
In 2002, Cobourne had an incredible senior year. He set a school record for most rushing yards in a single season with 1,710 yards. This record was later broken in 2006. He also scored a career-high 17 touchdowns. In one game against ECU, he rushed for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns, which was his personal best.
College Legacy
Avon Cobourne finished his college career as the all-time leading rusher for both the Big East Conference and West Virginia University. He gained an amazing 5,164 rushing yards. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in all four of his seasons. He is considered one of the greatest running backs in West Virginia history.
Professional Football Career
Time in the NFL
After college, Cobourne signed with the Detroit Lions in 2003. He played in seven games, carrying the ball seven times for 27 yards. He also returned kickoffs and caught some passes. In 2004, he was part of the Lions' practice squad.
During the 2004 season, Cobourne played for the Cologne Centurions in NFL Europe. He rushed for 525 yards on 117 carries there. In 2005, he signed with the Miami Dolphins but did not play in any games.
Canadian Football League Highlights
Avon Cobourne then moved to the Canadian Football League (CFL) and joined the Montreal Alouettes in 2006.
Early CFL Years (2006-2007)
In his first CFL season, Cobourne mostly played on special teams. He led the team with 21 special teams tackles. He also had the longest missed field goal return in the league, running it back 95 yards.
In 2007, Cobourne was a backup running back. He became known as a dangerous returner. In one exhibition game, he returned a missed field goal 111 yards for a touchdown! This play was even shown on ESPN's SportsCenter. He finished the season with 160 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.
Becoming a Star (2008-2009)
In 2008, Cobourne became the starting running back for the Alouettes. He had an amazing season, rushing for 950 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also caught 64 passes for 607 yards and 2 touchdowns. His total of 1,557 yards from scrimmage was third-best in the CFL. He was named an East Division All-Star.
The 2009 season was even better. Cobourne rushed for 1,214 yards and 13 touchdowns. He had several games with over 100 rushing yards. His best game was against Hamilton, where he rushed for a career-high 193 yards and two touchdowns. He was named the Most Valuable Player in the 97th Grey Cup. The Montreal Alouettes won the championship that year, defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 28–27.
Later CFL Years (2011-2012)
On February 16, 2011, Avon Cobourne signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He started 17 regular season games for them. He was released by Hamilton in February 2012. However, he was re-signed later that year after another player got injured. In 2012, Cobourne was named a CFL East Division All-Star for the third time in his career. He was released by the Tiger-Cats again in February 2013.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Avon Cobourne became a football coach.
- From 2014 to 2015, he was the running backs coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
- In 2016, he was the running backs coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He left the Bombers in April 2017.
Beyond Football: Business Ventures
Avon Cobourne earned a degree in marketing from West Virginia University. He is also a businessman. He runs a sporting goods company called Pre-Game Enterprises. This company sells T-shirts, caps, and mouthpieces. His company's slogan is "Chill Son." During the football season, his wife, Rebecca, helps manage the company.
