Denico Autry

Denico Autry was born on July 15, 1990, in Albemarle, North Carolina. He distinguished himself in high school football at Albemarle High School, where he excelled as a two-way player. During his senior year, Autry recorded 104 solo tackles, 38 assists, 9.0 sacks, five forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries, earning him accolades such as the All-SNAP Defensive Player of the Year and Rocky River Conference Defensive Player of the Year. His foundational success in high school paved the way for his collegiate career, starting at East Mississippi Community College before transferring to Mississippi State.

Autry’s college football journey began at East Mississippi Community College, where he contributed to the Lions’ undefeated 12-0 season, state championship, and NJCAA national title in 2011, earning him a spot on the 2011 NJCAA Football All-America First-team. He then transferred to Mississippi State, playing in 26 games with 23 starts from 2012 to 2013. During his time as a Bulldog, he accumulated 73 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, and three forced fumbles. Although he went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Autry was signed by the Oakland Raiders, marking the beginning of his professional football career on May 20, 2014.

Since his NFL debut on October 2, 2014, with the Oakland Raiders, Autry has consistently demonstrated his defensive prowess. He has played for the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, and currently plays for the Houston Texans as of 2024. Over his career, he has achieved significant milestones, including leading the Titans with a career-high 11.5 sacks and 58 quarterback pressures in 2023, and being the first Titans player since Jevon Kearse (1999-2001) to record eight or more sacks in three consecutive seasons. Autry’s career has been characterized by consistent performance, earning him recognition for his strong defensive play and impactful contributions to team success.