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On Wednesday, it was announced that former Troy running back BJ Smith has signed a contract to play for the Alabama Beavers of the upstart International Football Alliance (IFA).

The IFA is a professional football league that plans to kickoff in 2025 with 10 teams from the United States and Mexico. The U.S. teams include the Alabama Beavers, Tampa Bay Tornadoes, Las Vegas Kings, Dallas Pioneers and an unnamed team based in Portland, Oregon. The Mexican teams will include the Guadalajara Tequileros, Chihuahua Rebellion, Cancun Sharks and two more teams to be announced. The Alabama Beavers will be based out of Huntsville.

Smith is one of the first Alabama natives to be announced as signing with the Beavers and the only former Trojan to sign thus far. Former Troy kicker Brooks Buce is also a player the Beavers have teased as potentially signing in the future.

Smith played at Troy from 2016 through 2021. The Millbrook native exploded in 2018 when he rushed for 1,168 yards and 13 touchdowns and earned All-Sun Belt honors. Coming into 2019, Smith was named the Preseason Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year but in the second game of the season he tore his ACL.

Smith returned in 2020 and played 10 games and played in 11 more games in 2021. During those two seasons he shared the ball with Kimani Vidal, rushing for 372 yards and four touchdowns in 2021. During his Trojan career, Smith compiled 2,203 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground.

In 2023, Smith signed with both the Northern Arizona Wranglers and Jacksonville Sharks of the Indoor Football League.