Not going Awe: Montreal Alouettes sign CFL veteran Micah Awe

Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions

The Montreal Alouettes have signed American linebacker Micah Awe for the 2026 season.

The five-foot-eleven, 216-pound defender led the CFL with 114 defensive tackles while playing for the B.C. Lions in 2025. He also made three special teams tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.

“The acquisition of Micah Awe will give us added depth on defence,” said general manager Danny Maciocia in a statement. “He knows the league and our organization, and he has always prepared properly. His professionalism will help guide our younger players.”

Awe had his best CFL season in 2023 when he recorded 134 total tackles, six special teams tackles, three interceptions, two sacks, and one forced fumble with the Calgary Stampeders to be named All-CFL.

In total, Awe has made 568 defensive tackles, 44 special teams tackles, six sacks, seven interceptions, and seven forced fumbles over 118 regular-season CFL games as a member of the Lions, Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Redblacks, Alouettes, and Calgary Stampeders.

The Montreal Alouettes were relatively quiet in free agency, though they still added quarterback Dustin Crum, receiver Jerreth Sterns, and return specialist DeVonte Dedmon. The team also suffered some key losses, including Austin Mack (Edmonton Elks), linebacker Darnell Sankey (B.C. Lions), defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy (retirement), and return specialist James Letcher Jr. (Saskatchewan Roughriders).

The Alouettes hold the eighth overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. The team will play its first preseason game against the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday, May 22 and its first regular-season game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Thursday, June 4.

In 2025, Montreal finished second in the East Division standings with a 10-8 record and beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Final before losing the 112th Grey Cup to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.