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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Dylan Sanders

Baylor grad Abram Smith returns to Texas for Saints preseason opener

Texas native and former Baylor Bear Abram Smith will return home for his first professional preseason game when the New Orleans Saints are hosted by the Houston Texans on Saturday night. Smith was a priority undrafted free agent acquired earlier this offseason by the Saints.

Smith started his football career in Abilene, Texas, the hometown of Saints Assistant General Manager Jeff Ireland, where he was the best running back in school history at Abilene High School.

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He then left to go to college at Baylor, where he had an interesting career on both sides of the ball. He found significant playing time as a junior as a linebacker, where he had 48 tackles, five of them for a loss. He moved back to the other side for his senior year where as a running back he accrued 1,601 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

His best path to the Saints roster is as a running back who is a significant contributor on special teams. His experience as a linebacker makes it easy to see where he would have a leg up to some other running backs fighting for playing time. His biggest competition would be Dwayne Washington, who is a proven vet on special teams and a reliable depth running back. There is a future where the Saints do keep four running backs on roster, however, in which he has to battle with Devine Ozigbo and Tony Jones Jr.

Reports from camp are that he has not been able to separate himself yet, but he will have a great shot to earn some playing time on Saturday. That opportunity will come in front of plenty of friends and family back in his home state of Texas.

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