Belton, Texas – Former University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football standout Teidrick Smith is one step closer to realizing his dream of becoming a professional football player. Smith signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Rams following the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend.
Smith was one of 51 players invited to participate in the rookie minicamp and impressed the coaching staff enough to earn a contract and a spot on the Rams' 90-man roster for training camp. He was one of just three invited players signed by the Rams after minicamp. Smith will continue with organized team activities next week and then report with the rest of the Rams players in late July and the team holds its training camp on the campus of the University of California-Irvine. The defensive end from Hallettsville High School was a four-year starter for the Cru and was named D3football.com National Defensive Player of the Year after leading UMHB to the first national championship in program history in 2016. The three-time American Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year finished his career as the ASC and UMHB career leader in sacks and tackles for loss and also ranks among the school's top ten all-time in tackles.
Smith becomes just the fourth UMHB football alum to participate in an NFL training camp. He joins current Chicago Bear linebacker Jerrell Freeman, offensive lineman Nate Menkin and linebacker Javicz Jones on that list.
