In Awe: Montreal Alouettes sign veteran middle linebacker Micah Awe

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

Alouettes general manager and new head coach Danny Maciocia has made his first big move since firing Khari Jones, signing American linebacker Micah Awe.

Awe began the 2022 season as a member of the B.C. Lions but was unable to find a regular role due to the team’s ratio, releasing him on June 23.

The 28-year-old originally began his CFL career with the Lions in 2017. His 54 defensive tackles that season were good for the third-best on the squad while the punishing defender also added 16 special teams tackles and a forced fumble. The Nigerian-born linebacker was then released to sign a contract with the New York Jets but would return to the Lions in August 2018, racking up 31 defensive tackles in seven contests.

Awe moved on to the Toronto Argonauts as a free agent in 2019 and registered 44 defensive stops, one interception, one sack and a forced fumble in ten games. He suited up in all 14 games for the Ottawa Redblacks last season, notching a career-high 74 defensive tackles and three sacks.

Awe majored in Petroleum Engineering at Texas Tech while also putting together an impressive body of work on the field with 253 combined tackles, six pass knockdowns and a pair of sacks in 38 games from 2013 to 2015. Awe led all Red Raiders with 126 combined tackles in his senior season.

An established veteran middle linebacker, Awe could see himself in a starting role for the Alouettes sooner rather than later, after incumbent Tre Watson was released this week for an incident with other team personnel on the Montreal sideline.