Deon Lacey facts for kids

Deon L. Lacey, born on July 18, 1990, is a former American professional football player. He played as a linebacker, a key defensive position in football. Deon Lacey played college football at the University of West Alabama. He was part of several teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Edmonton Eskimos / Elks, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Deon Lacey's Early Life

Deon Lacey was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 18, 1990. He attended Hueytown High School in Hueytown, Alabama. There, he excelled in both football and track and field.

High School Achievements

While playing for the Golden Gophers football team, Lacey earned many awards. He was named All-state and Super All-Metro. He also received the Old Spice Player of the Year award. His strong defensive play earned him the Defensive Player of the Year title. In track and field, he set a school record in the 400 metres race.

College Football Career

Lacey played college football for the West Alabama Tigers from 2008 to 2012. He quickly became a standout player on their defense.

Key College Highlights

In 2011, Lacey was named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year. That season, he made 97 tackles, which means he stopped the opposing team's players many times. He also had nine tackles for loss, four sacks, and two interceptions. He broke up four passes and recovered one fumble. By the end of his college career, he had an impressive 267 tackles, nine sacks, six forced fumbles, and five interceptions.

Professional Football Journey

After college, Deon Lacey began his professional football career. He played for teams in both the NFL and the CFL.

Dallas Cowboys (2013)

The Dallas Cowboys of the NFL signed Lacey on April 28, 2013. This happened after the 2013 NFL draft, where he was not chosen by any team. Lacey played in three preseason games for the Cowboys. He made five tackles during these games. However, the Cowboys released him on August 27, 2013.

Edmonton Eskimos (2014–2016)

Lacey then moved to the Canadian Football League (CFL). He signed with the Edmonton Eskimos on February 26, 2014. He quickly made a big impact on the team.

Impact in the CFL

Lacey was especially good on special teams, which are plays like kickoffs and punts. He also became a very important part of the Eskimos' starting defense. During his three years with the Eskimos, Lacey played in all 54 games. He recorded 144 defensive tackles and 68 special teams tackles. He also had 7 sacks, 3 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and even scored 1 touchdown.

NFL Interest

In December 2016, several NFL teams showed interest in Lacey. He had workouts with teams like the Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, and Denver Broncos. To allow him to sign with an NFL team, the Eskimos released him early on January 3, 2017.

Miami Dolphins (First Time: 2017)

On January 10, 2017, Lacey signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins. This was a "reserve/future" contract, meaning it would start in the next season. However, he was waived by the Dolphins on September 2, 2017.

Buffalo Bills (First Time: 2017–2018)

The very next day, September 3, 2017, the Buffalo Bills picked up Lacey. He was waived by the Bills on October 18, 2017, but they re-signed him the next day. He finished the 2017 season with nine tackles.

Contract Extension and Release

On February 20, 2019, Lacey signed a one-year contract extension with the Bills. He played in all four preseason games in 2019, making 18 tackles. However, he was released by the Bills on August 31, 2019, during the final roster cuts.

Miami Dolphins (Second Time: 2019)

On September 1, 2019, the Dolphins claimed Lacey again. This meant they picked him up after he was released by the Bills.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (First Time: 2020)

Lacey signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL on May 21, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the CFL to cancel the 2020 CFL season. Because of this, Lacey chose to opt-out of his contract with the Roughriders on August 25, 2020.

Buffalo Bills (Second Time: 2020)

On September 17, 2020, Lacey joined the Bills' practice squad. He was temporarily moved to the active roster for two games in September. He was then promoted to the active roster on October 12, 2020. He was waived on October 27 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released from the practice squad on January 1, 2021.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (Second Time: 2021)

Lacey re-signed with the Roughriders on June 15, 2021. He played for them again during the 2021 season.

Edmonton Elks (2022)

Lacey returned to the Edmonton Elks (formerly the Eskimos) on February 8, 2022. He signed with them as a free agent.