Albert Awachie is a fullback with a fallback.
As one who majored in criminology, law and society at the University of Toronto — with minors in philosophy and political science — he is enviably positioned for a prosperous post-football career.
The immediate, all-consuming priority, though, is the upcoming Canadian Football League season — his sixth with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“There are so many possibilities, but I like to just focus on football for now and what I’ve got to do for this season,” Awachie states.
“(Ex-NFLer) Steve Smith was one of my favourite receivers back in the day and he had an interview where he said that he put all his eggs in one basket. That’s the approach I like to have, where I’m just focused on one thing at a time.
“If I’ve got to change course, I’ll put the same energy towards that, but for now I’m a Roughrider and I’ve got to help bring a Grey Cup here.”
There have already been some near-misses, which provide additional incentive for the 30-year-old Awachie as he works out exhaustively in the Roughriders’ training facility at Mosaic Stadium.
Awachie was a first-year CFLer in 2017 when the Roughriders finished fourth in the West Division, crossed over into the East playoffs, and ultimately met the Toronto Argonauts — his hometown team — with a Grey Cup berth at stake.
It was an impressive ascent for the Roughriders after a five-win season in 2016. The regular-season victory total doubled in 2017 before Saskatchewan downed the host Ottawa REDBLACKS 31-20 in the East Division semi-final.
Next stop: BMO Field, Toronto.
A mere 2:44 remained in the fourth quarter when Saskatchewan’s Christion Jones returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. His closest pursuer was future Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo, who was moonlighting as a special-teamer on the Argonauts’ punt-coverage unit.
When Brandon Bridge connected with Naaman Roosevelt for a two-point convert, the Roughriders found themselves ahead 21-18.
But then the Argonauts moved 68 yards in 10 plays, the last of which was a one-yard quarterback sneak by Fajardo — then a short-yardage specialist — for what proved to be the game-winning major with just 23 seconds left.
The Argonauts’ 25-21 victory was a prelude to their Grey Cup win one week later.
“That was a painful one,” reflects Awachie, who was then putting the finishing touches on his degree at the U of T.
“After the season ended, I still had to take a shuttle from downtown Toronto to Mississauga, so I’m passing that stadium every single day while going to school.
“I’m getting reminders and reminders … and that’s just fuelling me. I’m like, ‘We’ve got to get this done.’ ”
The following year, the Roughriders played host to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who posted a 23-18 victory in the 2018 West Division semi-final.
The Blue Bombers returned to Mosaic Stadium for the 2019 West final. With a 13-5 record, the Roughriders had secured first place in the division — for only the second time since 1976 — and a bye week leading up to a home playoff game.
Despite an ankle injury, Awachie had suited up for the Roughriders when they clinched first place by defeating the visiting Edmonton Elks 23-13 in the regular-season finale.
For the division final, however, the Roughriders activated veteran fullback Patrick Lavoie and scratched Awachie. The Roughriders then lost 20-13 to Winnipeg in a down-to-the-wire heartbreaker.
It was nonetheless a successful, memorable season for the Roughriders, whose 13 victories were their most since the 1970 edition went 14-2. But Awachie, true to form, used misfortune as motivation.
“The good thing about that,” he says, “is that I carry those painful moments.”
He lugs them into the gym — day after day, hour after hour, rep after rep.
That was his mindset at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with memories still fresh of the 2019 West Division final.
When there wasn’t any football to be played in 2020, Awachie treated every workout like it was game day.
“I asked myself, ‘Can I pull this off, being heavy, and still keep my athletic abilities?’ ” recalls the 6-foot-3 Awachie, who at an early juncture in his CFL career was 225 pounds.
“It was about finding that right balance. I definitely had to change my diet. I had to be more intense. There had to be more determination in the weight room.
“I had to make sure that, no matter how big I got, I could still keep running, keep running … make sure I’m quick.
“You’re doing this for football, so every day you’ve got to put your most into it.”
The result of that devotion is a recent reading of 272 pounds on the scale.
The additional bulk comes in handy for an honest, often-unsung player, who is routinely called upon to block — whether he is lining up in the offensive backfield or deployed as a tight end.
Newly appointed offensive co-ordinator Kelly Jeffrey has discussed the possibility of lining up with two, or even three, tight ends in certain situations.
Regardless of whether the extra beef is used to clear lanes for running backs or to provide additional protection for quarterback Trevor Harris, the clear indication is that Awachie’s contributions will be integral.
“I’m really excited for him to have his opportunity to show what he can do as an important part of the offence,” says Jeffrey, who was the Roughriders’ running backs coach last season. “He just plays so hard every snap and is someone who likes physicality. He’s a great fit into what we want to do to move the ball.”
Or a pile of humanity, as the case may be.
Awachie noticed the impact when the COVID-shortened 2021 season began with a 33-29 victory over the visiting B.C. Lions. After going 642 days between games, he quickly derived benefits from the long hours in the gym.
“We went up 31 points in that first half and there were just the pancakes,” says a chuckling Awachie, still relishing the notion of having flattened rival players on Aug. 6, 2021.
“Every time it happened, I’d just yell out, ‘Pancake! Pancake!’ I started counting them out.”
Awachie would not be counted out as he pursued his dream of playing professional football while also making an impression in the classroom.
A serious injury, suffered in 2015 during a one-on-one drill in a winter camp session with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, would not deter him.
Albert Awachie by Barak Falkovitz
“I laid there on the ground and I knew something was wrong,” Awachie says. “I couldn’t really bend my leg the way I wanted to. I thought, ‘OK, this is going to take some time …’
“Fast forward to the surgery. They’re telling me, ‘You tore a bicep tendon on your leg. You tore an LCL (lateral collateral ligament). You tore your ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).’
“It was just the knee in general, and there were also some ankle problems. There was a lot of mess there.
“I was in denial.”
Undeniable was his resolve to emerge better than ever, despite the extent of the injury and the encroaching reality of facing a scalpel.
“I still had to figure out how to get to school,” Awachie says. “Before the surgery date, I’m showing up to school with no crutches. There’s snow on the ground and I’m parking as far as I can away from the school, just to will myself to be like, ‘This is not as bad as you think it is.’
“I’m walking through the snow, trying not to slip. My knee is bending back for certain steps, but I’m telling myself, ‘You’re still walking.’ Emotionally, I felt like I was fine. I felt like I could fight through it.
“So we get to the surgery. They’re briefing me that “you’re not going to be able to play football at the highest level and there’s a 50-per-cent chance that you’re going to be able to play at all.’
“I’m thinking, ‘OK, if I have the mindset to walk to school, without surgery and with no crutches, I think I can beat this 50-per-cent mindset.’ ”
There was a zero-per-cent chance of playing in 2015. But, come 2016, Awachie was back on the football field, albeit while wearing a cumbersome knee brace that created some limitations.
“I thought, ‘All right, what can I control?’ ” says Awachie, who was a receiver and defensive back at the U of T. “I knew that if I got my hands on someone, I could be very physical, so my game just became more physical.
“There was one hit in particular. It was against Guelph. I was out playing Z (lined up as a receiver) but they had me squeeze in to help on the edge.
“It was going to be this little crack block, but I hit this guy on the end and he ended up caving in the whole defensive line. We got the edge for an easy first down.
“I remember thinking, ‘Man, this is just how I’m going to play.’ ”
The Roughriders took notice, signing Awachie as an undrafted — and most certainly undaunted — free agent in May of 2017.
Six years later, he is second on the team in continuous service, behind long snapper Jorgen Hus (who joined the Roughriders in 2015).
Despite being an established CFLer, Awachie still approaches every workout with the resolve of a raw rookie.
“Albert improved every week last season,” Jeffrey notes. “It’s rare to see that level of consistent improvement over a full season, but he has that great level of compete inside him that keeps him battling to get better every practice.”
That attitude extends into the games, during which Awachie typically makes an impact that cannot be gauged by statistics or confirmed at first glance.
Oftentimes, it is necessary for a lay person to rewind a play a few times and isolate on Awachie to fully absorb and appreciate what he does. Internally, his contributions are more conspicuous.
“His teammates feed off his energy,” Jeffrey says. “When he makes a big hit on special teams or has a reception, the whole sideline gets excited and it can shift the momentum of the game.
“Albert’s effort and enthusiasm are contagious and make the team better on and off the field.”
Awachie understands the need to get better — individually and as a collective.
After enduring a 6-12 season in 2022, Awachie covets a return to the playoffs, and an opportunity to take that all-important next step after heartbreaking — yet motivating — experiences such as those of 2017 and 2019.
“I’m very excited to see how Coach Jeffrey wants to use the personnel on offence,” Awachie says. “I know he wants to take advantage of the full field, so I’m very keen to see what’s going to happen.
“During this off-season, I’ve definitely worked on things to be a factor in both the running and passing game. I know that’s going to be crucial.
“That’s one of my goals. Normally, there’s just winning, but my goal this year is to expand my game. That’s the challenge that I really want to take on.”
Over 53 CFL regular-season games to this point, Awachie has registered 14 special-teams tackles, including eight last season.
On offence, he has caught six passes (in an equivalent number of targets) for 50 yards. Thirty-four of those yards have been gained after the catch.
Four of his six career receptions were made over 17 games last season.
As Awachie’s incorporation into the offence continues to evolve, one long-awaited byproduct could very well be his first touchdown as a university or professional player.
“Once I break that first one, it’s going to be like, ‘Oh, that was it?’ ” Awachie says with a smile. “Then it’s going to be rolling from there.
“I think it’s going to be one of those things where it takes one until you see my game really blossom and that confidence just overwhelms, where it’s like, ‘This is definitely my game.’ ”
