ABRAM SMITH AGAIN 😤@XFL2023 | @XFLDefenders pic.twitter.com/uhSNSUfA1n
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 19, 2023
Here’s a cool story: Abram Smith endeared himself to a lot of New Orleans Saints fans last summer, but ball security concerns in training camp and preseason led to him unfortunately being let go during roster cuts. But the former Baylor Bear has landed on his feet with the XFL’s D.C. Defenders — and used that opportunity as a sprinter’s block to put himself on everyone’s radar.
Smith ran for 217 yards and scored 3 touchdown runs in Saturday night’s big win over the St. Louis Battlehawks, leaving an XFL-record crowd of 35,868 fans stunned at the The Dome at America’s Center. It was the Defenders’ fifth consecutive win to open the season, and every one of Smith’s carries counted in the too-close 28-20 road win.
Good for him. Smith ran well for New Orleans, but some untimely fumbles and drops caused his coaches’ faith in him to waver. Hopefully he can continue to produce in the upstart spring league so he can earn more opportunities at the game’s highest level in the fall. The Saints could look to be adding another running back behind Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams. Maybe Smith can work his way back into their good graces.
