CFL: 7th season

Stamps: 2nd season

Games played through 2024

Regular season: 99

Playoffs: 1

Grey Cup: 0

Acquired                                                                                                                                                    

Signed on Feb. 17, 2023.

Pro path

• 2016 – Signed as undrafted free agent by Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) on May 8. He was released on Sept. 7
• 2017 – Signed with BC Lions (CFL) on Mar. 7
• 2018 – Signed with New York Jets (NFL) on Feb. 1. He was waived on Apr. 28
• 2018 – Re-signed with BC Lions on Aug. 20
• 2019 – Signed with Toronto Argonauts (CFL) on Feb. 14
• 2020 – Signed with Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) on Feb. 18. He was released on Jan. 31, 2021
• 2021 – Signed with Ottawa Redblacks (CFL) on Feb. 12
• 2022 – Signed with BC Lions on May 21 and released on June 23
• 2022 – Signed with Montreal Alouettes (CFL) on June 6

2024

(Calgary) Awe played 18 games, starting all 18 contests at middle linebacker. He accumulated 69 defensive tackles, four special-teams stops and five knockdowns. In Week 5 at Montreal, he had a team-leading nine tackles. In a Week 7 home win against BC, he had six defensive tackles, one special-teams tackle and one knockdown.

2023

(Calgary) In his first season with the Stampeders, Awe started all 18 regular-season games at middle linebacker and set a franchise single-season record by recording 134 defensive tackles. It was the third-highest total in CFL history. Awe was a West Division and league all-star and Calgary’s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player as he led the CFL with 153 defensive plays including 134 defensive tackles, four tackles for loss, six special-teams stops, two sacks, three interceptions, one forced fumble and three knockdowns. Awe reached double digits in tackles on five occasions including a high of 13, which he accomplished in Week 19 against Saskatchewan and in Week 21 against Winnipeg. He started the Western Semi-Final against BC and registered four defensive tackles.

2022

(BC/Montreal) Awe started the season with BC and had one special-teams tackle in one game. After his release from the Lions, he joined the Alouettes on July 6, made his Montreal debut in Week 6 and started the final 12 regular-season games at middle linebacker. For the season, Awe had 47 defensive tackles including two tackles for loss, three special-teams stops, one interception, one knockdown, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery that he returned 68 yards. He had at least five defensive tackles in a game on four occasions.

2021

(Ottawa) Awe played and started all 14 regular-season games with the Redblacks. He established career highs with 74 defensive tackles and three sacks and also had four tackles for loss, two special-teams tackles and two forced fumbles. Awe established a career high in Week 11 when he recorded 11 tackles. In Week 16 against Montreal, he had five tackles, one sack and a forced fumble.

2020

(Winnipeg) Awe was under contract with the Blue Bombers but the season was cancelled because of the global pandemic.

2019

(Toronto) Awe played 10 games and made seven starts for the Argos. He accumulated 45 defensive tackles including two tackles for loss, six special-teams tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. In Week 6, he picked off a pass by Calgary’s Nick Arbuckle for his first career interception. In Week 8, he brought down Winnipeg’s Matt Nichols for his first sack in the CFL. Awe had five games with at least five defensive tackles.

2018

(BC) After a stint in the National Football League, Awe rejoined the Lions in August and returned to the field in Week 13 with a four-tackle performance against Ottawa. He played and started seven games, recording 31 defensive tackles including four tackles for loss and three special-teams stops. Awe made a season-best seven defensive tackles in Week 15 against Hamilton.

2017

(BC) Awe played all 18 games and made nine for the Lions, seeing action both at linebacker and on special teams. He recorded 54 defensive tackles including one tackle for loss, 16 special-teams tackles, two knockdowns and one forced fumble. Awe recorded at least five tackles in a game on five different occasions including back-to-back nine-tackle efforts against Hamilton and Ottawa. He recorded at least two special-teams tackles in six games.

Notables

First game: June 24, 2017, vs Edmonton

First special-teams tackle: June 24, 2017, vs Edmonton

First defensive tackle: July 15, 2017, at Hamilton

First sack: Aug. 1, 2019, vs Winnipeg

First interception: July 18, 2019, at Calgary

West Division all-star: 2023

CFL all-star: 2023

Honour: Stampeders’ nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2023

Record-breaker: Set Stampeders single-season record with 134 tackles in 2023

College                                                                                                                                                 

Awe played 46 games over four seasons (2012-15) at Texas Tech. He was named all-Big 12 honourable mention as a senior in 2015 after leading the Red Raiders with 126 tackles. Awe finished his collegiate career with 237 total tackles including 159 solo stops, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and six passes defended. He had a career-high 14 tackles in a 2015 game against West Virginia.

Personal

Awe is an alumnus of Summit High School in Mansfield, Tex. In his senior season, he helped the Jaguars reach the second round of the state playoffs. Awe was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States with his family at the age of three. His brother Andrew is a linebacker at Rice University.