Israel Antwine Bio
Israel Antwine is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Houston Gamblers of the United Football League (UFL). Standing 6 ft 3 in and competing at roughly 327 lb, he plays on the interior of the defensive line and is listed as active on the team’s roster. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and Oklahoma State Cowboys before turning professional, and he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Over the early years of his professional career, Antwine has moved between the NFL, the Canadian Football League, and spring and indoor football leagues, building a path that includes a championship season north of the border. His journey from Oklahoma City high school football to multiple professional stops reflects steady development as a run-stopping interior lineman.
Early Life and Background
Israel Antwine was born on March 27, 2000, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He grew up in Oklahoma City and attended Millwood High School, a program known in the state for producing college-level talent. At Millwood, he lettered in both football and powerlifting, showing the combination of size and athleticism that would later define his defensive tackle profile.
Coming out of high school, Antwine was rated a three-star recruit by recruiting services. He drew scholarship offers from a wide range of college programs, including Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa State, Missouri, Texas Christian University, Texas, and Texas Tech. The depth of that offer sheet reflected his upside as an interior defensive lineman and helped set up his eventual path to Power Five football.
Path to American Football
Antwine committed to play college football at Colorado, joining the Buffaloes for the 2018 season as a true freshman. His early move into the college game was accelerated by his size and his readiness to handle the physical demands of the defensive line.
After one season at Colorado, Antwine announced on January 12, 2019, that he would transfer to Oklahoma State. He joined the Cowboys program for the 2019 season and continued his development in the Big 12, where he faced top-tier offensive lines week after week. The move to Oklahoma State allowed him to refine his technique and prepare for a professional opportunity.
Israel Antwine Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
During his true freshman season at Colorado in 2018, Antwine played in all 12 games and started 11 of them. He finished the season with 15 tackles and five solo stops, showing that he could handle a starter’s workload as a first-year player. His performance was enough to establish him as an interior defender with a clear college future.
At Oklahoma State, Antwine continued to add to his resume across three seasons. In 2019, he played in 10 games and started nine of them, finishing with 25 tackles, 14 solo stops, and three quarterback hurries. In the 2020 season, he played in all 11 games and started six while finishing with 20 tackles, five tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble. In 2021, he played in 13 games and started the last 10, posting 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and two quarterback hurries. He closed his college career with 29 solo stops, 65 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks.
Jacksonville Jaguars Breakthrough (2022)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Antwine signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022. The agreement gave him his first chance to compete at the highest level of professional football and validated the work he had put in during his college career.
Antwine was waived on August 30, 2022, but was re-signed to the Jaguars’ practice squad the next day. He was released by Jacksonville on October 11, ending his first NFL stint. Even though his time on the active roster was brief, the Jaguars’ opportunity marked his real entry into professional football.
Montreal Alouettes Era (2023)
On March 26, 2023, it was announced that Antwine had signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. The move gave him a chance to play a larger role north of the border and to compete for a championship in a league with a different style of play.
Antwine’s time in Montreal was the most successful stretch of his early career. He was part of the Alouettes team that won the Grey Cup in 2023, the championship game of the CFL. He was released by the Alouettes on January 24, 2024, closing a season that ended with a league title.
Massachusetts Pirates Era (2024)
On May 23, 2024, Antwine signed with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League. The indoor game offered a faster pace and a different set of schematic challenges, giving him another opportunity to refine his game as a defensive tackle.
His stint with the Pirates kept him active professionally and provided a bridge between his CFL championship experience and a return to spring football at a higher level.
Houston Roughnecks and Gamblers Era (2025–Present)
On March 11, 2025, Antwine signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League, marking his return to a major spring league. On January 13, 2026, he was placed on the Houston Gamblers Reserve List after the team’s rebranding, keeping him within the same Houston organization.
Wearing No. 95 for the Houston Gamblers, Antwine is listed as an active defensive tackle. His move into the UFL places him on a competitive spring roster with another opportunity to play meaningful football and build on his earlier professional experience.
Notable Events and Milestones
The signature moment of Israel Antwine’s career to date is his Grey Cup championship with the Montreal Alouettes in 2023. The Alouettes’ title run stands as his first major professional trophy and the clearest milestone in a career that has also included stops in the NFL, the IFL, and the UFL.
Israel Antwine Career Wins
Israel Antwine’s career includes one verified major championship, the 2023 Grey Cup won as a member of the Montreal Alouettes. His professional record across the NFL, CFL, IFL, and UFL also includes multiple seasons of regular-season playing time, with college stops at Colorado and Oklahoma State adding to his overall body of work.
Other Wins and Performances
Across his college career at Colorado and Oklahoma State, Antwine posted 65 tackles, 29 solo stops, 13 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks, finishing as a multi-year starter at the Power Five level. He has appeared in regular-season games for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Montreal Alouettes, Massachusetts Pirates, and Houston Roughnecks/Gamblers, building a professional resume that spans multiple leagues.
Israel Antwine Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Israel Antwine’s parents and broader family background is limited. His path into football began in Oklahoma City, where he attended Millwood High School and developed into a college recruit. No further verified details about his family are publicly available.
Personal Life
Israel Antwine keeps his personal life largely private, and no verified details about a spouse or children are publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
Israel Antwine entered the 2025 season as a member of the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League after signing on March 11, 2025. The deal positioned him on the interior of the Roughnecks’ defensive line and gave him a chance to compete in a spring league that has continued to grow in visibility.
During the 2025 season, Antwine contributed as a defensive tackle, helping anchor the team’s run defense while working within the UFL’s condensed schedule. His role offered another chance to show the development that began at Millwood High School, continued at Colorado and Oklahoma State, and grew through his Grey Cup-winning season in Montreal.
Heading into 2026, Antwine was placed on the Houston Gamblers Reserve List on January 13, 2026, after the franchise’s rebrand. Listed at No. 95 and marked as active on the roster, he remains part of the Gamblers’ defensive line plans and is positioned to be part of the team’s interior rotation for the upcoming season.