Mossis Madu, entering his 4th season with Ottawa has found himself with an advanced role with the team. This off-season, the REDBLACKS had lost many free agents on the offensive side of the ball including, running back William Powell. William Powell who had 2 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, and Madu had large holes to fill. Sure this might be a big opportunity for any other back, but Madu is different. Mossis has been faced my many obstacles, and has been in so many positions throughout his career.
Going into this season, Madu has had 9 years of professional football under his belt. After spending his school years with the University of Oklahoma, he rallied up 2,010 all-purpose yards and 9 touchdowns with the Sooners. Once his time expired in the NCAA, Madu had been signed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his time with the Bucs, he was granted the opportunity to fill a role in the depth chart with 15 carries, 55 yards along with 10 receptions for 72 yards in all 9 games he dressed in the 2011-12 campaign. After being let go by the Bucs, he landed a practice squad spot with the New York Jets for the 2013 season, just before being signed by Hamilton in the CFL.
In his first year in the CFL, he gave the Tiger Cats something to look forward to. He finished the 2014 season with 860 yards and 2 touchdowns, and 512 of those yards came from the pass game. Madu had 44 receptions for 512 yards. After a monster 2014 season, where he’d play 15 games, he missed the entire 2015 season with a major shoulder injury. Overcoming the obstacle, Madu was a free agent signing by the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2016 off-season.
The 2016 season is pretty well where Madu started to shine in the Ottawa organization… He, Nic Grigsby and Travon Van replaced the injured William Powell. In the time period which Madu was replacing Powell, he played 6 games, rushing for 490 yards on 92 carries and 3 touchdowns before he had suffered an injury in the 2016 East Final which had sidelined him for the entire postseason. In both 2017, and 2018 Mossis Madu played a backup role, where he’d only see the ball minimum times, maybe once a game, unless there is an injury. In the two seasons combined, he totaled 619 all-purpose yards to go with 5 touchdowns.
In the 2018 free agent period, the Redblacks had both Mossis Madu and William Powell on the market, and had to make a decision. Just minutes before free agency had started on February 12th, 2019, it had been announced that the REDBLACKS had re-signed Madu with a one year extension. The Saskatchewan Rough Riders landed William Powell, and the REDBLACKS were granted Mossis Madu to be the starter in the 2019 season.
We are heading into week 5 of the 2019 CFL season, and Mossis Madu and the Redblacks are 2-1. The free agent losses have yet to play a huge role on our season, and we shouldn’t see much trouble. Madu has rushed for 180 yards, caught for 36 and is averaging just over 4 yards a carry. Madu has played fantastic, it’s just a matter of time for him to have another breakout game.
During the off-season, I had the chance to catch up with Mossis, and learn a few things about him.
Q: What is your favorite color?
A: “My favorite color has been Army green, I believe the name is “Hunter”.”
Q: What is you favorite meal, desert included?
A: “Can never go wrong with a good burger and fries, with a Pizookie or Beaver tail for desert.”
Q: What is your dream car?
A: “Well, I’m actually lucky enough to have my dream car, it is a Dodge Charger SRT. “
Q: If you couldn’t play sports, what would you be doing?
A: “If I didn’t play sports, I think I’d still be associated with sports, probably coaching.”
Q: If you could pick one NFL tam to play for, who’d you be playing for?
A: “I would play for the Chargers, mostly because I like San Dago, where they played, and they’ve got some sweet uniforms.”
I hope this interview helped you get to know our starting running back!!
JZ MEDIA 