The D.C. Defenders signed offensive lineman Yasir Durant and placed running back Abram Smith on the injured reserve on Thursday according to the UFL Transactions page. In regards to Smith’s injury, the team believes he tore his ACL according to Mike Mitchell.
Yasir Durant is six foot seven and weighs 330 pounds. The 25-year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He played 11 games for the Chiefs. Next, the Chiefs traded Durant to the New England Patriots on August 31, 2021. Durant played seven games with one fumble recovery before he was released on August 30, 2022.
Then, Durant signed with the New Orleans Saints on September 20, 2022, playing one game before spending the rest of the season on the practice squad. Durant also spent time with the Denver Broncos.
Collegiately, Durant played one season at Arizona Western Community College in 2016 playing both tackle and guard in 12 games for the Matadors. The Matadors averaged 382.9 total yards, 140.8 passing yards, 242.1 rushing yards, and 42.2 points per game.
Then, Durant transferred to Missouri (2017-19) playing left tackle in 37 games for the Tigers. In 2018, Missouri’s offense ranked 13th nationally (third in the SEC) in total offense (481.8 avg.), 18th nationally (third in the SEC) in scoring (36.6 avg.), and 18th nationally (third in the SEC) in third down conversions (46.4%).
Abram Smith is five foot eleven and weighs 221 pounds. The 25-year-old from Abilene, Texas, had 156 carries for 778 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 12 catches for 91 yards in 10 games for the Defenders leading them to the XFL Championship Game in 2023 against the Arlington Renegades. In the title game, Smith had 13 carries for 90 yards, two touchdowns, and two catches for 28 yards. He was the XFL’s leading rusher and was named to the All-XFL Team.
The Defenders drafted Smith in the first round (1st pick) of the 2023 XFL Draft. Before D.C., Smith signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He also spent time with the Minnesota Vikings.
Collegiately, Smith played four seasons at Baylor (2018-21) with 269 carries for 1,647 yards, 13 touchdowns, 14 catches for 78 yards, one kick return for 13 yards, 56 tackles (37 solo, 19 assists), five tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble in 42 games for the Bears. He was named Second Team All-Big 12 in 2021 after setting the new team’s single-season records for rushing (1,647), and nine 100-yard rushing games.
