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: | 196 lb (89 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: | Active | ||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||
| |||
Player stats at PFR |
Micah Alexander Abernathy (born February 10, 1997) is an American 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 | |
Taylor Heinicke is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Old Dominion Monarchs and signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Heinicke has also been a member of the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, and Washington Football Team / Commanders of the NFL, and the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL.
Reid Fragel is a former American football offensive tackle. He played college football at Ohio State and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
James Alan Vaughters is an American professional football linebacker 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.
Jeremy Theron McNichols is an American football running back for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boise State and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. McNichols has also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Greg Joseph is a South African-born American professional football placekicker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida Atlantic and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Later that year, Joseph made his NFL debut with the Cleveland Browns. He has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Minnesota Vikings.
Godwin Eric Igwebuike is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Northwestern, Igwebuike was an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Ryan Christopher Neal is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Southern Illinois, and has also been a part of the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, and the Seattle Seahawks while in the NFL.
Dexter Vidal Williams is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Notre Dame and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Christopher Jon Slayton is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Syracuse.
Quinton Bell is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Prairie View A&M.
Mark Fields is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Clemson.
Elliott Goering Fry is an American football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at South Carolina. He has played for the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Alliance of American Football (AAF)'s Orlando Apollos.
Abdullah Malik Anderson Jr. is an American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. 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 football nose tackle who is a free agent. 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 football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Ferris State.
Henry L. Black is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Baylor.
Dylan Mabin is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Fordham.
La'Darius Hamilton is an American professional gridiron football defensive end for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at North Texas, and originally signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers.
John Wagner Leglue is an American football guard and offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tulane.