 Alford with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 | |||||||||||
| No. 20 – Atlanta Falcons | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | November 5, 1997 Hernando, Mississippi, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 175 lb (79 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Spalding (Griffin, Georgia) | ||||||||||
| College: | Tusculum (2016–2019) | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR · CFL.ca | |||||||||||
DeAundre Alford (born November 5, 1997) is an American football cornerback & punt returner for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He won the 2021 Grey Cup with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a starter in his first season, defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33–25. He played college football at Tusculum.
College career
[edit]Alford played college football for the Tusculum Pioneers from 2016 to 2019 where he played in 40 games and recorded 140 tackles and 10 interceptions.[1] He also had 40 passes defended as a Pioneer, which is a school record.[1]
Professional career
[edit]Winnipeg Blue Bombers
[edit]
Following his collegiate career, Alford signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on February 10, 2020.[2][3] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he did not play in 2020 and several of his pro day workouts were canceled.[4]
After completing training camp with the Blue Bombers in 2021, Alford won a starting job at cornerback and played in his first professional game on August 5, 2021, against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats where he recorded six defensive tackles.[5] On September 18, 2021, he recorded his first career interception and first career touchdown as he picked off Edmonton Elks quarterback Taylor Cornelius and returned it 20 yards for the score.[6] He finished the game with two tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble and was named the CFL's top performer of the week.[7] Alford had a strong season with the Bombers, finishing as a CFL All-Star in his first season. He would help the Bombers' league-leading defense to their second consecutive Grey Cup title as they defeated the Tiger-Cats 33–25.[8]
Atlanta Falcons
[edit]On January 10, 2022, Alford signed a reserve/future contract with the Atlanta Falcons.[9]
On October 2, 2022, during a Falcons game against the Cleveland Browns, he would make a game-sealing interception on a pass thrown by Jacoby Brissett to win the game 23–20.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Alford was born in Hernando, Mississippi and grew up in Griffin, Georgia.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Dee Alford". Tusculum Pioneers. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- ^ "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- ^ "Dee Alford signs with Winnipeg Blue Bombers". Tusculum Pioneers. February 10, 2020.
- ^ Allen, Taylor (August 2, 2021). "Rookie Alford set for spot in Bombers secondary". Winnipeg Free Press.
- ^ "CFL Game Details, Week #1 – Game #1 – Year 2021, Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers" (PDF). Hamilton Tiger-Cats. August 5, 2021.
- ^ "Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Edmonton Elks". Canadian Football League. September 18, 2021.
- ^ "Alford, Lawrence and Reilly named CFL's weekly top performers". Sportsnet. September 21, 2021.
- ^ Paul Friesen (January 4, 2022). "Friesen: Bombers' Alford on whirlwind NFL tour". Winnipeg Sun.
- ^ "Falcons sign 17 to reserve/future contracts". AtlantaFalcons.com. January 10, 2022.
- ^ Flick, Daniel (October 2, 2022). "WATCH: Falcons CB Dee Alford Makes Game-Winning Interception vs. Browns". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 2, 2022.