Ali Fayad (American football)

Ali Fayad (born May 12, 1999) is a Lebanese-American gridiron football linebacker for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL). He was most recently a member of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Western Michigan and was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Ali Fayad
refer to caption
Fayad with the Argonauts in 2022
No. 98 – Philadelphia Stars
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1999-05-12) May 12, 1999
Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:Dearborn (MI)
College:Western Michigan
Undrafted:2022
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and education

Fayad was born on May 12, 1999, in Dearborn, Michigan.[1] He is Lebanese.[2] Fayad attended Dearborn High School, where as a senior he made 60 tackles and 17 sacks, earning Detroit Free Press first-team all-state and Detroit News all-metro honors.[1]

Fayad initially committed to Eastern Michigan, but changed his mind and instead committed to Western Michigan in 2017.[3] As a true freshman, Fayad appeared in every game and started three, making 20 tackles, 2-and-a-half quarterback sacks and one fumble recovered.[1]

In 2018, Fayad appeared in 13 games and was a starter in the final 12. He made a total of 34 tackles and 7.5 sacks, while also recording four forced fumbles and a recovery. He also recorded 12 tackles-for-loss, leading the school.[4] Fayad started every game in 2019 and made a total of 53 tackles, 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and a recovery, earning second-team all-conference honors.[1] Prior to the 2020 season, Fayad was ranked the number ten edge defender in the nation.[5]

In a COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Fayad played in four games and made 17 tackles and four sacks.[1] After a game against Toledo, he was named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week.[6]

In 2021, Fayad ranked fourth in FBS with 13 sacks and was named the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year.[7]

Professional career

Philadelphia Eagles

After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Fayad was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent.[8] He was released on August 14, 2022.[9]

Toronto Argonauts

On September 3, 2022, Fayad was signed to the practice roster of the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL).[10] He played in four games for the Argos in 2022, contributing with four defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, and one sack. Fayad won the 109th Grey Cup to conclude the season. He was released by the Argos on February 28, 2023.[11]

Philadelphia Stars

On March 4, 2023, Fayad signed with the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL).[12]

References
  1. "Ali Fayad". Western Michigan Broncos. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  2. Meyer, Nick (September 13, 2019). "Dearborn native, Lebanese American Ali Fayad stars for Western Michigan University's Broncos football team". The Arab American News. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  3. Buckley, Nick (July 17, 2018). "Western Michigan's key players for 2018: No. 17 Ali Fayad ahead of curve at defensive end". Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  4. Goricki, David (September 5, 2019). "Dearborn's Ali Fayad, Western Michigan ready for another shot at Michigan State". The Detroit News. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  5. "Western Michigan's Ali Fayad ranked No. 10 edge defender for 2020". The Detroit News. April 3, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  6. "Ali Fayad Named to Pro Football Focus Team of the Week". Western Michigan Broncos. November 16, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  7. Infante, Jacob (April 26, 2022). "Meet Ali Fayad, Western Michigan's underrated edge defender". USA Today. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  8. Greger, Mike (May 3, 2022). "Eagles Sign Underrated 'Ghost Rusher' from Western Michigan". Heavy. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  9. McPherson, Chris (August 14, 2022). "Roster Moves: Eagles release OL William Dunkle and LB Ali Fayad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  10. "Argos sign former MAC Defensive Player of the Year Ali Fayad, one other". 3DownNation. September 3, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  11. "Toronto Argonauts release American DL Ali Fayad". 3DownNation. February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  12. @USFLStars (March 4, 2023). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved March 4, 2023 – via Twitter.
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