The 10 years of Ottawa REDBLACKS history have produced many highlights, celebrations, and memorable moments. For the fans, the players on the field have become idols, important figures in the community, and in some cases, close friends.
In celebration of the REDBLACKS’ All-Decade game on August 24th, members of the media were given the opportunity to vote on who they believed earned a spot on the All-Decade Team, and now, you’ll find out who made the list. Today, it’s the linebackers.
Weakside linebacker – Damaso Munoz
Beginig his career in Edmonton, Demaso Munoz put a wrap on his playing career with the REDBLACKS between 2014 and 2016, becoming a full time starter in 2015. In his tenure in the nation’s capital, Munoz picked off a pair of passes patrolling the second level of the defence, while forcing himself into quarterbacks’ memories with eight sacks.
Despite limited playing time in his first season, Munoz put a close on his REDBLACKS career with 180 tackles, with seven of them being for a loss, and forcing four fumbles, three of which came in 2015, his career high.
Though never an award winner in his time in the CFL, Munoz was named an East All-Star in 2016, winning a Grey Cup in the same season.
Middle linebacker – Avery Williams
Avery Williams is another example of the Temple to Ottawa pipeline that formed in the early days of the franchise, and continues to this day. Arriving in 2018 after a stint with the NFL’s Houston Texans, he quickly worked his way into the starting lineup.
A lot of anger was packed into his five-foot-10 frame, which worked to his advantage in his first two seasons, stringing together 111 tackles in only 22 starts. After the pandemic, Williams didn’t just return to form, he became one of the better middle linebackers in the league, snagging a pair of interceptions, and adding four sacks, while still being an incredibly important part in run and pass defence.
In 2021, Williams was named an East All-Star, setting career highs in numerous categories, including games played and tackles, while tying a handful of others.
Strongside linebacker – Jerrell Gavins
In four seasons with the REDBLACKS, Jerrell Gavins always gave the casual fan a reason to get excited about defence. In stature, Gavins stood at five-foot-eight, but his play was grandiose, bringing an unmatched energy to the park every time he suited up.
Gavins began his CFL career playing in the halfback spot, but migrated down to sam linebacker in time, where he played the role that sees him honoured here. He got the start in all but one of the 59 games he suited up for with the REDBLACKS, in which time, he snagged seven interceptions, forced three fumbles, and bagged one quarterback sack.
Gavins was named an East All-Star in 2015, and made his biggest play as a REDBLACK in the 2016 Grey Cup, breaking up a Bo Levi Mitchell pass on third down, to secure Ottawa its first championship in 40 years.
