Micah Abernathy
No. 29 – Atlanta Falcons
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1997-02-10) February 10, 1997 (age 26)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
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 Week 8, 2023
Total tackles:4
Games played:5
Player stats at NFL.com · 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).

Personal life and high school

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]

College career

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]

Professional career

Pre-draft

Pre-draft measurables
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]

Minnesota Vikings

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]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On August 11, 2019, Abernathy signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[9] The Buccaneers waived Abernathy on August 14, 2019.[10]

Indianapolis Colts

On August 26, 2019, the Indianapolis Colts signed Abernathy.[11] He was released on August 31, 2019.[12]

Dallas Renegades

Abernathy played for the Dallas Renegades of the XFL during the 2020 season.[13]

Houston Gamblers

Abernathy played for the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League during the 2022 season.[14]

Green Bay Packers

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]

Atlanta Falcons

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]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

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

References

  1. ^ "Micah Abernathy, Tennessee Volunteers, Safety". 247Sports. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  2. ^ "Micah Abernathy College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "Tennessee Volunteers Coaches". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "Micah Abernathy – Football". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  5. ^ Warner, Chris (April 9, 2019). "Combine Snubs Who Showed 'Em, 2019 Edition". Boston Sports Media Watch. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  6. ^ "2019 NFL Draft Scout Micah Abernathy College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "Micah Abernathy Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". National Football League. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  8. ^ Gates, Christopher (July 24, 2019). "Vikings sign De'Angelo Henderson, waive Micah Abernathy". Daily Norseman. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "Buccaneers Sign S Micah Abernathy and DL Shane Bowman". buccaneers.com. August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  10. ^ Smith, Scott (August 14, 2019). "Bucs Claim WR Emanuel Hall". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  11. ^ "Colts Sign Safeties Micah Abernathy, Jacob Thieneman". colts.com. August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "Vikings Sign Henderson, Release Abernathy". Vikings.com. July 24, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  13. ^ Burke, Kris (September 7, 2022). "How Micah Abernathy's journey of 'ups and downs' led him to the Green Bay Packers". ACME Packing Company. SB Nation. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  14. ^ Larsen, James (August 10, 2022). "Houston Gamblers S Micah Abernathy Signs With Green Bay Packers". USFL Newsroom. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  15. ^ "Packers sign S Micah Abernathy, RB Dexter Williams". packers.com. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  16. ^ Hodkiewicz, Wes (August 30, 2022). "Packers keep two RBs, seven WRs: Here's the initial 2022 roster". packers.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  17. ^ "Packers sign S Rudy Ford". packers.com. August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  18. ^ "Packers sign S Micah Abernathy to practice squad". packers.com. September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  19. ^ "Packers elevate two for gameday". packers.com. September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  20. ^ "Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – September 11th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  21. ^ "Packers elevate S Micah Abernathy, RB Patrick Taylor for gameday". packers.com. December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  22. ^ Bair, Scott (December 31, 2022). "Falcons make flurry of roster moves heading into Week 17 contest vs. Cardinals". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  23. ^ Waack, Terrin (August 29, 2023). "Falcons announce initial 53-man roster for 2023". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  24. ^ Bair, Scott (August 30, 2023). "Falcons announce additions to practice squad". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  25. ^ Waack, Terrin (October 18, 2023). "Falcons release defensive back, sign another from practice squad before Week 7 game with Bucs". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved October 18, 2023.

External links

Atlanta Falcons roster
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