C. J. Avery
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{no significant coverage|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
| name = C. J. Avery
| team = Saskatchewan Roughriders
| image = 2024, 35, C. J. Avery.jpg
| image_upright = 1
| caption = Avery with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2024
| status = Active
| import = yes
| number = 35
| college = Louisville
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|3|22}}
| career_highlights =
| CFL = c-j-avery-2/167240/
| position1 = Linebacker
| birth_place = Grenada, Mississippi, U.S.
| high_school = Grenada H.S.
| Height_ft = 6
| Height_in = 0
| Weight_lbs = 232
| playing_years1 = {{NFL Year|2022}}*
| playing_team1 = Chicago Bears
| playing_years2 = {{XFL Year|2023}}
| playing_team2 = Vegas Vipers
| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|2024}}*
| playing_team3 = Montreal Alouettes
| career_footnotes =
| Honours =
| playing_team4 = Saskatchewan Roughriders
| playing_years4 = {{CFL Year|2024}}–present
}}
C. J. Avery (born March 22, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals and also had a stint with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) and the Vegas Vipers of the XFL.
College career
Avery played college football for the Louisville Cardinals from 2017 to 2021.{{Cite web |title=C.J. Avery - Football |url=https://gocards.com/sports/football/roster/c-j--avery/11972 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website= |publisher=University of Louisville Athletic |language=en}} He played in 54 games where he had 349 total tackles, nine sacks, three interceptions, 16 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. As a four-year starter for Louisville, he led the team in tackles in 2019 and 2020.{{Cite web |title=C.J. Avery |url=https://www.riderville.com/players/c-j-avery-2/167240/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website= |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |language=en}}
Professional career
=Chicago Bears=
Avery signed with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) on May 6, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=May 6, 2022 |title=Roster Moves: Bears sign undrafted free agents |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-sign-undrafted-free-agents-2022-season-rookie-minicamp |access-date=2024-12-18 |website= |publisher=Chicago Bears |language=en-US}} He was later waived with an injury settlement on August 12, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-12 |title=C. J. Avery: Waived from IR |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/c-j-avery-waived-from-ir/ |access-date=2024-12-18 |website= |publisher=CBSSports |language=en}}
= Vegas Vipers =
Avery was drafted by the Vegas Vipers in the eighth round, 64th overall of the 2023 XFL Draft.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Brandon |date=2022-11-21 |title=XFL Draft Recap 2022: Vegas Vipers XFL Draft Recap and Review |url=https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/xfl-draft-recap-2022-vegas-vipers-xfl-draft-recap-and-review/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241219000425/https://xflnewshub.com/xfl-news/xfl-draft-recap-2022-vegas-vipers-xfl-draft-recap-and-review/ |archive-date=December 19, 2024 |access-date=2024-12-19 |website= |publisher=XFLNewshub |language=en-US}} In the first game of the season against the Arlington Renegades, Avery recorded the first interception of the 2023 season.{{Cite web |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Former Louisville Cardinals' linebacker C.J. Avery gets first interception in new XFL |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/2023/02/20/xfl-opening-weekend-former-louisville-football-player-gets-first-int/69922548007/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website= |publisher=The Courier-Journal |language=en-US}} He started all 10 games and finished with 62 tackles and one interception.
= Montreal Alouettes =
On January 16, 2024, it was announced that the Avery had signed with the Montreal Alouettes.{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Alouettes sign five American players |url=https://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/football/montreal-alouettes/article619098.html |access-date=December 18, 2024 |publisher=Montreal Gazette}} He was released on March 5.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Anthony |date=2024-03-07 |title=Grey Cup Champion Montreal Alouettes Say Goodbye to Former Chicago Bears Linebacker, Welcome Former Bears DB |url=https://www.si.com/cfl/fannation/news/grey-cup-champion-montreal-alouettes-chicago-bears-cj-avery-macon-clark |access-date=2024-12-19 |website= |publisher=Sports Illustrated |language=en-US}}
= Saskatchewan Roughriders =
Avery was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders on April 15.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-15 |title=Riders sign American linebacker C.J. Avery |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2024/04/15/riders-sign-american-linebacker-c-j-avery/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website= |publisher=Canadian Football League |language=en}} He played in the first game of the season against the Edmonton Elks on June 8 and recorded an interception. In his next game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, he would have another interception that would set up the game-winning field goal. In doing so, he became the first player since Harry Skipper in 1986 to have at least one interception in their first two games as a member of the Roughriders.{{Cite web |last=Vanstone |first=Rob |date=2024-06-19 |title=Roughriders' C.J. Avery produces quick picks |url=https://www.riderville.com/2024/06/19/roughriders-c-j-avery-produces-quick-picks/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website= |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |language=en}} On August 15, he was placed on 1-game injured list.{{Cite web |title=C.J. Avery Transactions {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/players/cj-avery-averycj01/transactions |access-date=2024-12-19 |website= |publisher=FootballDB.com |language=en}} On August 21, he was activated from the injured reserve. He would finish the season with 59 total tackles, one sack, three interceptions, and one forced fumble in 19 games.{{Cite web |title=C.J. Avery |url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/c-j-avery-2/167240/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website= |publisher=Canadian Football League |language=en}}
Personal life
Avery's grandfather played football at the University of Virginia and his dad, Chris Avery, played for the Arena Football League and World League of American Football in Spain. His cousin is Genard Avery.{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Britton |title=‘I’m looking to make the family proud’: Riders’ C.J. Avery |url=https://www.cjme.com/2024/06/23/football-family-have-intertwined-for-riders-c-j-avery/ |website=980 CJME |access-date=12 January 2025 |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.riderville.com/players/c-j-avery-2/167240/ Saskatchewan Roughriders bio]
{{Saskatchewan Roughriders roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avery, C. J.}}
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Canadian football linebackers
Category:Players of American football from Mississippi
Category:Players of Canadian football from Mississippi
Category:Sportspeople from Grenada, Mississippi
Category:Louisville Cardinals football players
Category:Chicago Bears players