Opportunity Knocks for Jordan

Last week, Hamilton and Montreal completed a trade that sent starting offensive tackle Tony Washington to the Montreal Alouettes. This trade left the Tiger-Cats with the task of finding a replacement for him. Looking no further than their own practice roster, Avery Jordan was promoted to the starting lineup.
Jordan’s efforts along the offensive line in his first Canadian Football League game were notable as he and the remaining Tiger-Cats front five helped the team accumulate over 300 yards for the fifth time in six games this season. For Jordan, this was his first start since his collegiate days at Blinn Community College and the University of New Mexico.
During his two years as a Blinn Buccaneer from 2014-16, Jordan recorded stats on both sides of the ball for the Buccaneers as a defensive end and as an offensive tackle.
In his freshman season, Jordan spent the year at the defensive end position, recording 14 total tackles in eight games. Jordan moved from defensive end his freshman year to offensive tackle in his sophomore season.
Jordan’s play on the offensive line at Blinn caught the attention of many notable schools as he received offers from a handful of NCAA Division I schools and ultimately committed to the University of New Mexico.
Jordan appeared in 11 of 12 games during his junior season for the Lobos, starting six at right tackle. His 2017 season would show much of the same as he played in 12 games for the Lobos finishing his collegiate career with 23 games played for UNM.
Aspiring to become a pro athlete, like his brother DeAndre – a centre in the National Basketball Association – Jordan was one of the few New Mexico players who got to perform in front of NFL scouts during the university’s pro day.
Unfortunately for Jordan, the NFL draft came and went without his name being called. This, however, provided an opportunity for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to sign him in May.
Jordan spent the first six weeks of the regular season on the Tiger-Cats practice roster, patiently waiting for his number to be called. Before that, his only game action came during two preseason games.
Fast forward to the trade the Ticats made last week, which sent two offensive linemen Tony Washington and Landon Rice to Montreal. Suddenly, Jordan found himself competing for a starting job.
Tiger-Cats head coach June Jones was extremely impressed with his play from his new right tackle.
“I knew Avery was going to play good,” said Jones.
Though the deal made by the Tiger-Cats last week came as a surprise to the team, Jordan knew he’d be ready if and when his name was called.
“You always have to be prepared for the worst situations,” Jordan said. “You always have to have those thoughts in the back of your head like ‘Oh, I’m next.'”
Preparing as a starter for the second straight week, Jordan noted his week-to-week preparation has had to change given his roster status.
“Oh, it definitely has to change,” said Jordan. “Now that I’m starting, I have to start doing things the vets are doing: staying later watching the film, making sure I’m working out, making sure I’m doing things at home,” he added.
Going into this week’s game in Montreal, there are a few lingering nerves for Jordan that haven’t been shaken quite yet.
“Of course I’m always going to have a little of bit of jitters going into every game,” said Jordan. “But, at the end of the day, it’s football, the other person I’m going against puts his pants on one leg at a time like I did.”
But when asked about what it’s going to feel like walking on the field again, those nerves are easily moved to the back burner as Jordan’s pure excitement takes hold as he looks forward to Friday.
“You always have to be excited playing the game you love.”