No. 29 – Atlanta Falcons | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Safety | ||||
Personal information | |||||
Born: | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | February 10, 1997||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||
Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Greater Atlanta Christian School (Norcross, Georgia) | ||||
College: | Tennessee (2015–2018) | ||||
Undrafted: | 2019 | ||||
Career history | |||||
| |||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
Roster status: | Injured reserve | ||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||
|
Micah Alexander Abernathy (born February 10, 1997) is an American professional football safety for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee, and originally signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts, and Green Bay Packers of the NFL, the Dallas Renegades of the XFL, and the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL).
Micah Abernathy was born on February 10, 1997. He was a four-star recruit of the Class of 2015, as the 233rd prospect and the 25th best cornerback prospect nationally on 247Sports. Abernathy's grandfather is the 20th-century civil rights activist, Ralph Abernathy. He committed to the University of Tennessee on October 10, 2014. [1]
Abernathy played at the University of Tennessee from 2015 to 2018 under head coaches Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt. [2] [3]
During his freshman year, he played in all 12 games, playing the nickel position and kick returner. He switched to safety in 2016, starting 10 games for the Volunteers. He tied the team lead for interceptions (2) and passes defended (6), ranked second in tackles (69) and led the team in fumbles recovered (3). In 2017, he started all 12 games at safety and ranked third on the team in tackles (81) but had no interceptions and only 2 passes defensed. The following year, in his final season, he started 8 games at safety, missing 4 with an injury, and again recording no interceptions (and only 1 pass defensed). [4]
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 ft 11+5⁄8 in (1.82 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 31 in (0.79 m) | 9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.45 s | 1.59 s | 2.59 s | 4.09 s | 6.60 s | 38.5 in (0.98 m) | 10 ft 10 in (3.30 m) | 15 reps | |
All values from Pro Day [5] [6] |
Abernathy was graded by NFL analyst Lance Zierlein as a "priority free agent" prior to the draft, remarking that he had the requisite size, speed and athleticism across multiple secondary positions, but noted that he lacked awareness, instincts, and tackling ability expected. [7]
After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft, Abernathy signed as an undrafted free agent for the Minnesota Vikings. Abernathy was released by the Vikings on July 24, 2019. [8]
On August 11, 2019, Abernathy signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [9] The Buccaneers waived Abernathy on August 14, 2019. [10]
On August 26, 2019, the Indianapolis Colts signed Abernathy. [11] He was released on August 31, 2019. [12]
Abernathy played for the Dallas Renegades of the XFL during the 2020 season. [13]
Abernathy played for the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League during the 2022 season. [14]
On August 10, 2022, the Green Bay Packers signed Abernathy following injuries to safeties Darnell Savage, Vernon Scott and Dallin Leavitt. [15] Abernathy played well in his first pre-season appearance against the New Orleans Saints, recording an interception and a tackle for loss on a screen pass. He was named to the 53-man roster by the Packers on August 30, 2022, as the fifth safety on the depth chart. [16] On August 31, 2022, he was released. [17] He was signed to the practice squad two days later. [18] He was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster and made his NFL debut in week one of the regular season, playing on six special teams snaps in the 7–23 loss to the Vikings. [19] [20] On December 3, 2022, he was once again elevated for gameday. [21]
On December 31, 2022, Abernathy was signed by the Atlanta Falcons off the Packers practice squad. [22] He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad. [23] [24] The Falcons signed him to their active roster on October 18, 2023. [25]
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Comb | Total | Ast | Sck | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | FF | FR | ||
2022 | GB | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Bradley McDougald is a former American football safety. He played college football at Kansas and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as undrafted free agent in 2013. He has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
James Alan Vaughters is an American professional football defensive lineman for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Stanford. Vaughters was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He has also been a member of the New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jhurell Pressley is a former American football running back. He played college football at New Mexico and was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He has also been a member of the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Arizona Hotshots, and DC Defenders.
Dane Ashton Cruikshank is an American professional football safety. He played college football at Arizona. Cruikshank was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft.
Greg Joseph is a South African professional football placekicker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Atlantic Owls and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Joseph has also been a member of several other NFL teams, most notably with the Minnesota Vikings.
Demone Harris is an American professional football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Harris played college football at Buffalo.
Godwin Eric Igwebuike is an American former football running back who played in the NFL for 6 years. He played college football at Northwestern. Igwebuike was an undrafted free agent in 2018. He announced his retirement in 2024 after spending the offseason in free agency.
Ryan Christopher Neal is an American professional football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Southern Illinois, and has been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers while in the NFL.
Dexter Vidal Williams is an American professional football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Christopher Jon Slayton is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football at Syracuse.
Quinton Bell is an American professional football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Prairie View A&M.
Elliott Goering Fry is an American professional football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at South Carolina. He has been a member of the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), and the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Arizona Cardinals, and Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL).
Abdullah Anderson Jr. is an American professional football defensive end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Bucknell. Anderson signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and spent three seasons with them before playing with several other NFL teams.
Anthony Rush is an American former professional football nose tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for UAB, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He was also a member of the Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, and Dallas Cowboys.
Malik Taylor is an American professional football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Ferris State.
Patrick O'Neal Taylor Jr. is an American professional football running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Memphis.
Henry L. Black is an American football safety for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Baylor.
Dylan Mabin is an American professional football cornerback. He played college football at Fordham.
John Wagner Leglue is an American professional football guard and offensive tackle. He played college football at Tulane.
Coy Cronk is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers and Iowa Hawkeyes. He previously played in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars.