Denico Autry


Denico Autry is an American football defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He attended Albemarle High School in Albemarle, North Carolina and first enrolled at East Mississippi Community College. He then transferred to Mississippi State University, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders.

Early years

Autry played high school football for the Albemarle High School Bulldogs. He finished his senior season with 104 solo tackles, 38 assists, 9.0 sacks, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. He was named the All-SNAP Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the Rocky River Conference Defensive Player of the Year and played in the NCCA East-West All-Star game.

College career

Autry first played college football for the East Mississippi Lions of East Mississippi Community College, helping lead the Lions to a 12-0 record, state championship and NJCAA national title. He was named 2011 NJCAA Football All-America First Team.
He transferred to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs from 2012 to 2013. Autry played in 26 games, starting 23. He recorded 73 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks and three forced fumbles in his two-year career.

Professional career

Oakland Raiders

Autry was signed by the Oakland Raiders of the NFL on May 20, 2014 after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut on October 2, 2014 against the Cleveland Browns, recording two tackles. He played in ten games for the Raiders in 2014, accumulating thirteen combined tackles.
Autry played in fourteen games, starting eight, for the team during the 2015 season, totaling 22 combined tackles, three sacks, three passes deflections and one safety.
The Raiders offered him a one-year tender on March 9, 2016. He officially signed his tender on April 17, 2017.

Indianapolis Colts

On March 14, 2018, Autry signed a three-year, $17.8 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts. In Week 14, Autry recorded a career-high three sacks and two forced fumbles in a 6-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He followed that performance week two, with a pair of sacks in a 24-21 upset win over the Houston Texans, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.