Tag: Darius Victor

13 Saints competing in UFL after 2024 super draft

13 ex-New Orleans Saints players are competing after the 2024 UFL super draft, including Emmanuel Butler, Darius Victor, and Abram Smith:

The XFL and USFL merged earlier this year in a much-publicized joining of the two spring leagues, forming the new United Football League (UFL). And quite a few former members of the New Orleans Saints are in the mix with training camp on the horizon.

As part of that reorganization some teams were dissolved, with their players being made available in a multi-phase super draft for the remaining squads. And after all the picks were turned in, a baker’s dozen of former Saints players found themselves either on new teams or surrounded by new teammates.

Here’s the list:

8 former New Orleans Saints players get second shot with USFL teams

8 former New Orleans Saints players are getting a second shot with USFL teams, including the New Orleans Breakers:

The 2023 XFL season is drawing to a close, but the upstart USFL is just getting started. With multiple spring leagues up and running, many former New Orleans Saints players are getting another opportunity to keep pursuing their pro football careers.

We’ve already discussed the dozens of former Saints players making a go of it with the XFL. Now let’s shift focus to the USFL, where at least eight former members of the black and gold are getting a second shot:

Former Eagles RB Jordan Howard among latest Saints free agent tryouts

Former Eagles RB Jordan Howard, USFL Defensive Player of the Year Chris Odom among latest Saints free agent tryouts:

The start of New Orleans Saints training camp is here, so it makes sense for the team to fly in a handful of free agents for tryouts now that they’re getting a better grasp on their roster. Putting players through their paces in practice each day and checking in on various injury situations helps inform the Saints on where they still need help, and that’s reflected in their latest tryouts.

We know running back is a priority for them, so it’s good to see WWLTV’s Brooke Kirchhofer report that former Philadelphia Eagles backup Jordan Howard will be trying out soon. New Orleans could use an upgrade in the backfield behind Alvin Kamara regardless of his status, and Howard brings some value as a runner who has averaged 50-plus rushing yards per game in three of the last four seasons. He’ll be a good comparison for the Saints to work out alongside Darius Victor, the USFL’s Offensive Player of the Year who will be trying out soon.

Additionally, NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that the Saints will work out defensive end Chris Odom — a playmaking pass rusher who just won recognition as USFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Houston Gamblers. Odom bagged 12.5 sacks (leading the spring league), 8 tackles for loss, and 6 forced fumbles while blocking 4 kicks. The Saints run deep at defensive end but it’s still worth giving him a look, especially with Marcus Davenport starting camp on the PUP list. You can never have enough pass rushers.

It’s likely that the Saints are hosting other free agents, too, but we won’t know for sure until it’s reported or declared by the team to the NFL daily transactions wire. We’ll be keeping an eye out to see if any of this activity results in a contract or two.

[lawrence-newsletter]

USFL Offensive Player of the Year Darius Victor to work out with the Saints

Saints to work out running back Darius Victor, who won recognition as Offensive Player of the Year with the USFL’s New Jersey Generals:

Hey, this is interesting: the New Orleans Saints expect to work out free agent running back Darius Victor ahead of training camp, as first reported by ESPN’s Mike Triplett and confirmed by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. Victor posted a dominant performance with the New Jersey Generals, running for 577 yards through 10 games and scoring 9 touchdown carries, which led the spring league and won him recognition as the USFL’s inaugural Offensive Player of the Year.

And he’s got some familiarity with New Orleans. Victor joined the Saints for training camp back in 2017, ranked behind Mark Ingram II, Alvin Kamara, and Adrian Peterson on the depth chart, and his position coach at the time (Joel Thomas, who interviewed for the head coaching job with his alma mater Idaho Vandals this offseason) is still on staff with the Saints. It makes sense that there would be some mutual interest here.

Running back is a priority for the Saints whether Alvin Kamara receives an NFL suspension or not; he could miss six games stemming from an arrest in Las Vegas earlier this year. Ingram missed some time with an injury after returning to New Orleans in a midseason trade last year, as did his backup Tony Jones Jr. Special teams ace Dwayne Washington hasn’t gotten many looks on offense, and while undrafted rookie Abram Smith has some promise he’s got an uphill battle ahead of him to make the roster. Adding a player like Victor to the mix makes sense. We’ll just have to see if the mutual interest materializes into a contract offer to Victor’s liking.

[lawrence-newsletter]

USFL names former Saints RB Darius Victor its Offensive Player of the Year

USFL names former Saints RB Darius Victor its Offensive Player of the Year:

Now this is cool to see. The spring-league USFL announced its inaugural award-winners, with former New Orleans Saints running back Darius Victor named Offensive Player of the Year for the 2022 season. Victor has taken 127 carries for 577 yards through 10 games with the New Jersey Generals, third-most in the USFL, while leading the league with 9 touchdown runs. His rate of 4.5 yards gained per carry ranks second-best among players with 100-plus attempts.

Victor has also scored on a touchdown reception and totaled 113 receiving yards, combining for 690 scrimmage yards (second-most in the USFL behind his teammate Trey Williams), which certainly helped build his case. He and Williams helped form a terrific one-two punch at running back with another teammate, wide receiver KaVontae Turpin (a standout at Neville High School in Monroe, La.), winning the title as the league’s Most Valuable Player, and head coach Mike Riley being named Coach of the Year.

It’s an impressive second turn for the former Saints running back, who turned pro with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland’s Towson  University back in 2017. Victor ran hard for the Saints during training camp and preseason that year but was slotted behind a veteran starter in Mark Ingram II, a rookie draft pick in Alvin Kamara, and a much-hyped free agent pickup in Adrian Peterson. There wasn’t room for him in that rotation, which the Saints themselves needed some time to figure out.

After being waived by New Orleans Victor briefly caught on with the Arizona Cardinals and later kept his career going with the XFL’s New York Guardians. Now he’s earning more recognition in the USFL, and helping lead the 9-1 Generals towards a win-or-go-home matchup with the 6-4 Philadelphia Stars in Saturday’s playoff semifinal elimination game. If Victor’s squad finds a win, they’ll advance to the USFL championship game next week with either the 6-4 New Orleans Breakers or the 9-1 Birmingham Stallions. We’ll be pulling for him.

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