Kwame Cavil facts for kids

Kwame Sekou Cavil, born on May 3, 1979, is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver, which means he caught passes from the quarterback. Kwame played in major leagues like the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). He even won two Grey Cups in the CFL and a World Bowl in NFL Europe. Before turning pro, he was an amazing college football player for the Texas Longhorns.

Early Life and High School Football

Kwame Cavil was born in Waco, Texas, in 1979. He went to Waco High School. There, he played high school football as a linebacker and safety. In 1996, he was recognized as a top player in his state.

College Football Career

Cavil played college football at the University of Texas at Austin from 1997 to 1999.

Switching Positions and Freshman Success

When he started college in 1997, Kwame convinced his coach to let him try playing wide receiver. Even though he had never played that position before, he was very good in practice. The coaches decided to move him to wide receiver.

That year, he led his team in receiving yards. He had his first game with over 100 receiving yards against Texas Tech. He and another player, Jamel Thompson, set a school record for catches by freshmen.

Setting Records as a Sophomore

In 1998, Kwame and teammate Wane McGarity set a new school record. They had the most catches by two players in a single season. Cavil had 51 catches that year, which was one of the most in school history at the time. He had several games where he gained over 100 yards receiving.

At the end of the season, he was named to the All-Big 12 team. He helped the Longhorns win the 1999 Cotton Bowl, which was their first Cotton Bowl win since 1982.

Junior Year Achievements and All-American Honors

In 1999, Kwame helped his team win the Big 12 South division. This earned them another trip to the Cotton Bowl. He set new school and Big 12 records for catches (100) and receiving yards (1,188) in a single season. His 100 catches were among the most in NCAA history at that time.

He also set a record for receiving yards in a game by a junior, with 180 yards against Stanford. At the end of the season, he was named an All-American. He was also named the team's best wide receiver and offensive MVP.

Leaving College Early

After his junior year, Kwame decided to leave college early to try for the NFL. He was suspended from the team before the Cotton Bowl for breaking team rules.

When he left, he had the second-most career catches and receiving yards in school history. He was the first player to leave coach Mack Brown's Texas team with college eligibility remaining.

Years later, after his professional football career, Cavil returned to the University of Texas. He finished his studies and earned his bachelor's degree in 2010.

Professional Football Career

Starting in the NFL and NFL Europe

In 2000, Kwame Cavil signed with the Buffalo Bills in the National Football League (NFL). He played in 16 games that season, catching passes and playing on special teams.

In 2002, he played for the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe. He caught 15 passes in 9 games. Later that season, he joined the Berlin Thunder for the World Bowl. He helped them win World Bowl X, which is like a championship game for NFL Europe.

Playing in the CFL: Montreal Alouettes

In October 2002, Cavil joined the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played one game and helped them win the 2002 Grey Cup, which is the CFL's championship.

He continued to play for the Alouettes in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, he had an amazing season with 78 catches for 1,090 yards and 7 touchdowns. That year, he was named a CFL All-Star.

Moving to Edmonton and Hamilton

In 2005, Cavil was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos. He played 7 games for them and helped them win his second Grey Cup.

Before the 2006 season, he was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. After playing a few games, he was traded again to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He played 2 games for Winnipeg, catching 7 passes and scoring 2 touchdowns.

In 2007, he signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats again, but he was released before playing any games.

Coaching Career

After his football playing career, Kwame Cavil became a teacher and high school football coach. He coached at several high schools in Texas, including St. Michael's Catholic Academy and Manor High School.

In 2018, he became the head football coach at his old high school, Waco High School. He coached there for three seasons until 2020. Later, he became a head coach for strength and conditioning classes at the Round Rock Sports Center.