Byron Capers

Byron Capers (born October March 21, 1974) is a former American professional Canadian football defensive back who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Florida State.

Byron Capers

Born:	(1974-03-21) March 21, 1974
Career information
Status	Retired
CFL status	American
Position(s)	Defensive back
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	194 lb (88 kg)
College	Florida State
High school	Joseph Wheeler
NFL draft	1997 / Round: 7 / Pick: 225
Drafted by	Philadelphia Eagles
Career history
As player
1997*	Philadelphia Eagles
1997*	Kansas City Chiefs
1998–2001	Toronto Argonauts
2001	BC Lions
2001–2002	Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2002–2003	Ottawa Renegades
2003	Edmonton Eskimos
2004	Ottawa Renegades
Career highlights and awards
Grey Cup champion (2003) Bowl Coalition national champion (1993) First team All-ACC (1996) Second team All-ACC (1995)
Career stats
Total tackles	193
Forced fumbles	6
Fumble recoveries	5
Pass deflections	37
Interceptions	7

Early life and high school

Capers was born in Washington, DC and grew up primarily in Marietta, Georgia where he attended Joseph Wheeler High School. As a senior he was named first team All-State and a second team All-American by USA Today after making 117 tackles on defense and rushing for 1,305 yards on offense as well as an All-American in track.[1] Capers committed to play college football at Florida State University.[2]

College career

Capers played four seasons for the Florida State Seminoles. As a freshman, he appeared mostly as a reserve safety and on special teams on the Seminoles 1993 national championship team. As a junior he was named second team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. He was named first team All-ACC in his senior season.[3]

Capers also competed on Florida State's track team and earned All-America status as a junior in the 4x100 relay.[4]

Professional career

Capers was selected in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles but was cut at the end training camp.[5][6] He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs to their practice squad on November 13, 1997.[7]

In 1998, Capers was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Played three and a half seasons in Toronto before being traded to the BC Lions in 2001 and recorded four interceptions in seven games played.[8] Capers was released by the Lions after three games and was then signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers where finished the season.[9] He was released by the Blue Bombers in August of the following season and was picked up by the Ottawa Renegades for the final three games of the season. Capers started the 2003 season with the Renegades before being released and was signed later in the season by the Edmonton Eskimos, where he was a member of the Grey Cup championship team but did not play in any games. He was re-signed by the Renegades in 2004.[10]

References

1. "Florida State's football recruiting class of 1993". Rivals.com. April 20, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
2. Murphy, Austin (August 30, 1993). "HIS TIME HAS COME". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
3. Visser, David (August 13, 2016). "23 days to FSU football: All-American WR begins debate of best Seminole No. 23". TomahawkNation.com. SB Nation. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
4. "Two-Sport Track Athletes". Seminoles.com. June 21, 1999. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
5. Settle, Mike (April 23, 2020). "'Noles in the NFL Draft: The 1990s". SI.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
6. "EAGLES CUT ROSTER DOWN TO 53 PLAYERS". The Morning Call. August 25, 1997. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
7. "Transactions". Baltimore Sun. November 14, 1997. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
8. "Transactions". Hartford Courant. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
9. "Dyson dislocates kneecap". CBC.ca. September 7, 2001. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
10. "Capers returns to Renegades". oursportscentral.com. July 8, 2004. Retrieved August 4, 2020.