Injury to Ellingson opens the door for Alouettes’ rookie receiver Abram
Although he graduated with a degree in accounting from Kent State, Alouettes rookie receiver Keshunn Abram has his taxes completed by his mother.
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She’s an accountant, too, just one with more experience.
And while accountants are often typecast as boring and stodgy, Abram hopes the immediate numbers he produces are on the field, starting Saturday night, when the Als launch their regular season at home against the Ottawa Redblacks.
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“I feel like it’s a great opportunity,” Abram said following Wednesday’s 90-minute practice at Molson Stadium. “I feel like I can take full advantage of the opportunity. It’s a blessing for me to have this opportunity. I feel like … I’m going to go out there and perform to the best of my abilities.”
Canadian Tyson Philpot, the division’s outstanding rookie in 2022, also begins the season on the injured list.
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“Any time a guy … you signed and hoped would be available for you … I don’t know if concerned is the right word,” head coach Jason Maas said of Ellingson. “We’re playing with the guys that are available. For (Ellingson) he’s got a job to do, getting healthier and becoming available so we can make a proper decision of what’s best for our team at that point.
After launching his collegiate career at Northwest Missouri Community College, Abram transferred to Kent State, becoming one of the Golden Flashes’ top receivers in 2021. He was second on the team that season, catching 47 passes for 699 yards while scoring three touchdowns.
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Abram was one of five unrestricted free agents signed by the New York Jets in May 2022 and, despite reportedly having a strong pre-season, was released. He signed with the Als in late January. He’s considered to have an intriguing skill set.
“During camp he was one of those guys … he didn’t stand out here and there, with a flash play here or a flash play there,” Maas admitted. “But what he was for us, as coaches, was consistent. All the little details we ask guys to be about, he was. We put him in difficult positions and had him move around. He was able to do that. He definitely has a skill set to be here. The ability is there, he has great speed and runs really good routes. He was reliable for us at camp.”
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Time ultimately will dictate the prudence of that move. But whether it was Abram or Davis, the experience factor wouldn’t have been altered.
“Every single great receiver in this league was a rookie at some point,” Maas said. “It just happens we have a lot more than usual on our roster. It’s exciting. I look at it more as an opportunity and excitement. We’ve seen the ability every day in practice. They’re here for a reason. Professional football’s not easy. Overall we’re very excited about those guys.”
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