Abram Smith (born September 14, 1998) is an American football running back for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Baylor.
| No. 4 – DC Defenders | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 14, 1998 Abilene, Texas, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight: | 221 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Abilene (Abilene, TX) |
| College: | Baylor (2017–2021) |
| Undrafted: | 2022 |
| Career history | |
| |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Roster status: | Injured reserve |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NFL statistics | |
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |
High school career edit
Smith attended Abilene High School in Abilene, Texas. During his high school career, he rushed for a school record 4,955 yards and 77 touchdowns.[1] He originally committed to play college football at the University of Tulsa before changing his commitment to Baylor University.[2]
College career edit
After taking a medical redshirt his first year at Baylor in 2017, Smith played in six games in 2018, rushing four times for 11 yards. As a sophomore in 2019, he played in all 14 games, rushing eight times for 35 yards. Smith moved from running back to linebacker in 2020.[3] He finished the season with 48 tackles and one sack. Smith moved back to running back his senior season and became the starter.[4][5][6]
Smith was named the starting running back for the 2021 Baylor Bears football team and helped lead the Bears to a school record 12–2 season capped with a 2021 Big 12 Championship Game title and a 2022 Sugar Bowl victory. During the 2022 Sugar Bowl versus the Ole Miss Rebels, Smith rushed for 172 yards on 25 carries. With his Sugar Bowl performance, Smith broke the Baylor single season rushing record with 1,601 yards, which was previously held by Terrance Ganaway (1,547 yards in 2011).[7][8] Smith was named second-team All-Big 12 and a finalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award (2021).[9]
College statistics edit
| Season | GP | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2018 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 2.8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 | 8 | 35 | 4.4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 257 | 1,601 | 6.2 | 12 | 13 | 75 | 5.8 | 0 |
| Career | 19 | 269 | 1,647 | 6.1 | 13 | 14 | 78 | 5.6 | 0 |
Professional career edit
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11+5⁄8 in (1.82 m) |
213 lb (97 kg) |
30+1⁄4 in (0.77 m) |
8+1⁄4 in (0.21 m) |
4.54 s | 1.53 s | 2.59 s | 4.40 s | 7.25 s | 36.0 in (0.91 m) |
9 ft 8 in (2.95 m) |
13 reps | |
| Sources:[10][11] | ||||||||||||
New Orleans Saints edit
Smith signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2022.[12] He was waived on August 28.[13]
DC Defenders edit
Smith was drafted with the 1st overall pick in the 2023 XFL Draft during the first phase (Skill Players) of the draft by the DC Defenders.[14][15] Smith rushed for 788 yards and seven touchdowns during the season. He was also named to the 2023 All-XFL team at the end of the season.[16] He was released from his contract on August 3, 2023.[17]
Minnesota Vikings edit
On August 4, 2023, Smith signed with the Minnesota Vikings.[18] He was waived on August 28, 2023.[19]
DC Defenders (second stint) edit
On October 19, 2023, Smith re-signed with the DC Defenders.[20] He was placed on injured reserve on March 14, 2024 due to an ACL injury.[21]
References edit
- ^ "Former Abilene Eagle Abram Smith prepares to surprise the Big 12 at Baylor".
- ^ "Abilene High RB Abram Smith commits to Baylor".
- ^ "Flipping the switch: Abram Smith's change to LB paying off for Baylor".
- ^ "Abram Smith thriving in return to Baylor backfield".
- ^ "Perseverance pays off for Baylor's Abram Smith".
- ^ "Abilene High grad Smith continues to churn up yards for Baylor football team".
- ^ "Sugar Bowl notebook: Smith breaks Baylor single-season rushing record".
- ^ "Sugar Bowl quick hits: Abram Smith breaks Baylor's single-season rushing record".
- ^ "Deuce Vaughn, Abram Smith Named Finalists for Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award".
- ^ "Abram Smith Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ "Abram Smith, Baylor, RB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints agree to terms with 17 undrafted free agents". NewOrleansSaints.com. May 1, 2022.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 28, 2022.
- ^ "Defenders tab RB Abram Smith with No. 1 pick in XFL draft". Yardbarker. 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ "D.C. Defenders select Abram Smith with first overall pick in XFL Offensive Skill round". KWKT - FOX 44. 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/2023-all-xfl-team-revealed
- ^ "XFL Transactions". XFL.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ "Vikings Sign RB Abram Smith". Vikings.com. August 4, 2023.
- ^ "Vikings Begin Roster Reductions Ahead of Final Roster Cut Deadline". Vikings.com. August 28, 2023.
- ^ "24 Players Sign Letters of Intent With XFL". www.xfl.com. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
- ^ "UFL Player Transactions, Thursday March 14, 2024". UFLBoard.com. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.