Former JCSU football standout fits in with Montreal Alouettes

Former Johnson C. Smith University All-America De’Audra Dix (#35 in photo) is in his second season with the Canadian Football Leauge’s Montreal Alouettes.

De’Audra Dix is making the transition to playing cornerback in the Canadian Football League. Learning a new language, however, is more challenging.

Dix, a former Johnson C. Smith All-America, is in his second season with the Montreal Alouettes. After sitting the bench during the Alouettes’ 2009 Grey Cup championship run, he’s earned a spot in the starting lineup. Getting past the language hurdles in predominantly French-speaking Montreal is a different matter.

“I’ve learned a little French, but I kind of talk fast and my teammates don’t understand me anyway,” the Merritt Island, Florida, native said. “There are guys on the team who speak French and when you hear it enough you kind of understand what they’re saying, but I’m not fluent in it at all.” Dix, 26, is becoming more fluent as a cornerback in the pass-oriented CFL. Because the Canadian game is played on a field that is longer and wider than the American standard, defenders have to be quicker to compete. In his first start, a 54-51 loss to Saskatchewan in the season opener, he was credited with a pair of tackles and forced a fumble.

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MEAC/SWAC/CIAA/SIAC Players in the CFL.

# Name Pos I/N HT WT Birthdate College

B.C. Lions
1 Printers, Casey QB Import 6.02 225 1981-05-16 Florida A&M University
63 Olafioye, Jovan OL Import 6.06 325 1987-12-16 N.C. Central
84 Arceneaux, Emmanuel WR Import 6.02 211 1987-09-17 Alcorn State

Edmonton Eskimos
99 Pettway, Kenneth DE Import 6'3 248 1982-11-13 Grambling State
37 Williams, Roderick DB Import 5'11 180 1987-05-27 Alcorn State (Practice Squad)

Calgary Stampeders
94 Landry, Mike DL Import 6.03 266 1978-12-12 Southern University

Saskatchewan Roughriders
14 Patrick, James S Import 5.11 175 1982-06-07 Stillman College
26 Jones, Kitwana DE Import 6.00 227 1981-07-07 Hampton University
19 Byrd, Willie DB Import 6.03 198 1983-07-19 Miles College
(Practice Squad)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers
None

Hamilton Tiger-Cats
6 McDaniel, Marquay WR Import 5.10 205 1984-04-20 Hampton University

Toronto Argonauts
7 Carpenter, Dwaine DB Import 6.02 207 1976-11-04 North Carolina A&T
84 Lucas, Chad WR Import 6.01 201 1981-11-07 Alabama State
5 Heard, Denatay DB Import 5.09 169 1984-03-13 Stillman College (Injured)

Montreal Alouettes
35 Dix, De'Audra CB Import 5.10 160 1984-03-03 Johnson C. Smith
34 Marc, Emmanuel RB Import 5.11 200 1982-11-17 Delaware State (Practice Squad)