EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings have added another running back to the roster.
Minnesota signed Abram Smith, the team announced Friday.
In order to make room for Smith on the roster, the Vikings waived fullback Zach Ojile, a Blaine native who played college football at Minnesota-Duluth.
Smith was the first overall pick of the 2023 XFL Draft during the first phase (skill players) of the event. During the 10-game regular season, he recorded 788 yards and seven touchdowns. Smith was named to the 2023 All-XFL team following the season.
View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster as of Jan. 7, 2024.
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3 WR Jordan Addison
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78 T Hakeem Adeniji
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78 T Hakeem Adeniji
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33 LB Brian Asamoah II
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33 LB Brian Asamoah II
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54 LB Anthony Barr
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54 LB Anthony Barr
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5 CB Mekhi Blackmon
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23 CB Andrew Booth Jr.
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23 CB Andrew Booth Jr.
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56 C Garrett Bradbury
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56 C Garrett Bradbury
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64 T Blake Brandel
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64 T Blake Brandel
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90 DL Jonathan Bullard
Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC
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90 DL Jonathan Bullard
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24 S Camryn Bynum
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24 S Camryn Bynum
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55 OLB Andre Carter II
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55 OLB Andre Carter II
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32 RB Ty Chandler
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32 RB Ty Chandler
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6 S Lewis Cine
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6 S Lewis Cine
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71 T Christian Darrisaw
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71 T Christian Darrisaw
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52 DL Sheldon Day
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52 DL Sheldon Day
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42 LS Andrew DePaola
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42 LS Andrew DePaola
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15 QB Joshua Dobbs
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15 QB Joshua Dobbs
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21 CB Akayleb Evans
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21 CB Akayleb Evans
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16 QB Jaren Hall
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16 QB Jaren Hall
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30 FB C.J. Ham
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30 FB C.J. Ham
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58 LB Jordan Hicks
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58 LB Jordan Hicks
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99 OLB Danielle Hunter
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99 OLB Danielle Hunter
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67 G Ed Ingram
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67 G Ed Ingram
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81 WR Lucky Jackson
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81 WR Lucky Jackson
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25 S Theo Jackson
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25 S Theo Jackson
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18 Justin Jefferson
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18 Justin Jefferson
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91 OLB Pat Jones II
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91 OLB Pat Jones II
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1 K Greg Joseph
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1 K Greg Joseph
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2 RB Alexander Mattison
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2 RB Alexander Mattison
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44 S Josh Metellus
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44 S Josh Metellus
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12 QB Nick Mullens
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12 QB Nick Mullens
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86 TE Johnny Mundt
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86 TE Johnny Mundt
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7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.
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7 CB Byron Murphy Jr.
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34 TE Nick Muse
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34 TE Nick Muse
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26 RB Kene Nwangwu
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26 RB Kene Nwangwu
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75 T Brian O'Neill
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75 T Brian O'Neill
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84 TE Josh Oliver
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84 TE Josh Oliver
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17 WR K.J. Osborn
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17 WR K.J. Osborn
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40 LB Ivan Pace Jr.
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40 LB Ivan Pace Jr.
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97 DL Harrison Phillips
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97 DL Harrison Phillips
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4 WR Brandon Powell
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4 WR Brandon Powell
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76 T David Quessenberry
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76 T David Quessenberry
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62 G/C Chris Reed
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62 G/C Chris Reed
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G Dalton Risner
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66 G Dalton Risner
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93 DL Jaquelin Roy
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93 DL Jaquelin Roy
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65 G/C Austin Schlottmann
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65 G/C Austin Schlottmann
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22 S Harrison Smith
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22 S Harrison Smith
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50 DL T.J. Smith
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50 DL T.J. Smith
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11 CB NaJee Thompson
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11 CB Najee Thompson
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95 DL Khyiris Tonga
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95 DL Khyiris Tonga
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59 LB Nick Vigil
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59 LB Nick Vigil
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20 S Jay Ward
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14 P Ryan Wright
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14 P Ryan Wright
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The Abilene, Texas, native shined for the Baylor Bears from 2017-21. He played his first three collegiate seasons as a running back before switching to linebacker in 2020. That season, he totaled 48 tackles and a sack. The Bears moved him back to running back for his senior season, and he racked up 257 carries for 1,601 yards and 12 touchdowns. Smith helped lead the team to a school-record 12-2 season, capped with a 2021 Big 12 Championship and 2022 Sugar Bowl victory.
Smith went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft but signed with the Saints as a free agent that May. He spent the offseason and preseason with New Orleans but was waived just before the regular season.
Smith adds depth to a Vikings running backs room led by Alexander Mattison. He also joins Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride and fullback C.J. Ham.
