Inside The Vikings

Report: Vikings to Sign Star XFL RB Abram Smith

Smith was named All-XFL after a huge season for the D.C. Defenders.
Will Ragatz|
Report: Vikings to Sign Star XFL RB Abram Smith
Report: Vikings to Sign Star XFL RB Abram Smith

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have signed star XFL running back Abram Smith, according to the league. The former Baylor standout was named to the All-XFL team this year after rushing for 791 yards and seven touchdowns in ten games for the D.C. Defenders.

The Vikings reportedly worked out Smith and two other running backs on Thursday. Adding Smith gives them a little more depth at a position where they're dealing with some injuries. Starter Alexander Mattison got banged up at practice on Tuesday and Kene Nwangwu missed that practice entirely. The Vikings also have Ty Chandler and rookie DeWayne McBride on their roster at RB.

Smith, who turns 25 next month, spent five years at Baylor. After a redshirt year and two years as a reserve RB, he moved to linebacker in 2020 and had 48 tackles in five games. Smith then switched back to running back in 2021, earned the starting job, and broke out with 1,601 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. In 14 games, he had nine 100-yard outings.

Undrafted in 2022, Smith signed with the Saints but was waived during roster cuts. He was selected by the Defenders in the XFL draft and led the league in rushing by a wide margin during its season this spring. Smith's season was highlighted by a 218-yard, three-touchdown game against the St. Louis Battlehawks. With D.C., Smith was teammates with current Vikings wide receiver Lucky Jackson.

Smith stands 5'11", 211 pounds and ran a 4.54 40 with an elite 10-yard split at Baylor's pro day. He didn't have much receiving production in 2021 at Baylor or this year in the XFL, but he clearly has some talent as a runner.

A corresponding roster move will be coming when the Vikings officially announce this signing.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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