Veteran linebacker Micah Awe will make his first start as a member of the Montreal Alouettes when the club hosts the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday evening.
The 28-year-old 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, leading to his release on June 23. He dressed for one game with the team, recording one special teams tackle.
Awe signed with the Als on July 7 following the release Tre Watson, who started the first four games of the season at middle linebacker before being cut following two incidents with unnamed personnel. He dressed for last week’s game as the backup behind Tyrell Richards, who was the first overall pick in the 2022 CFL Draft. Awe will start at middle linebacker this week with Richards moving over to weak-side linebacker.
The Texas Tech product started his CFL career with B.C. in 2017, recording 54 defensive tackles, 16 special teams tackles, and one 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.
