OXFORD — Florida police are asking for help finding former Ole Miss football running back John Avery.
Avery has been missing for two weeks and is believed the be in the Daytona Beach area. The Port Orange Police Department announced the news in a social media post on May 16.Avery, a 5-foot-9, 188-pound player from Asheville, North Carolina, played at Ole Miss in 1996 and 1997. He transferred to Ole Miss after playing two seasons at Northwest (Miss.) Community College. Avery had an outstanding career in Oxford. He was named a team captain as a senior and led the team with 862 rushing yards on 166 carries. Avery scored seven rushing touchdowns in 1997.
Ole Miss finished the 1997 season 8-4 under coach Tommy Tuberville. The Rebels beat Marshall in the Motor City Bowl to end the season.
The Miami Dolphins drafted Avery with the No. 29 overall pick in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Avery also had stints with the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys. He last played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 2007.
