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A familiar face will make his way back to The Castle in Owings Mills.
After trying out with the Ravens during rookie minicamp, running back Fitzgerald Toussaint will sign an undrafted rookie contract with the organization, reports The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson.
Ravens are signing undrafted rookie running back Fitz Touissant, according to a source
— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) May 29, 2014
At this stage, Toussaint seems more of a practice squad guy, considering the top four running backs are Ray Rice, Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro. However, Pierce is coming off a down season, Forsett is by no means a lock to make the team and Taliaferro is dealing with his own issues following an arrest on Memorial Day weekend. And of course there's Ray Rice, a story that stands all by itself and has for some time now.
If there was ever going to be an opportunity for a potential sleeper at running back to take advantage, this would be that time.
In 2011, Toussaint ran for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns, helping the Wolverines to a Sugar Bowl win against Virginia Tech. The last two seasons were ones to forget, though a lot of blame can be placed on Denard Robinson's injuries and regression at quarterback under Brady Hoke in 2012, as well as Michigan fielding one of the worst offensive lines in school history, which somehow included Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield on it — both draft picks earlier this month. Toussaint even had a game against Penn State where he carried the ball 27 times for 27 yards. Yes, you read that correctly.
But Toussaint was a more than capable back early in his career at Michigan. And with how the Wolverines have gotten worse each year under Hoke, you have to wonder if that was more of a factor in Toussaint's numbers than his actual ability.
He's not going to unseat Rice, or probably even Pierce. But hey, when almost the entire running back group is in the dog house, this is as good of an opportunity as there will be this year for a sleeper to prove why he deserves a shot at some carries when the preseason rolls around.