NFL

Hilliard, Dalton

sco90 hilliardCard: ProSet 1990 LL, Score 1990 Ground Force
Acquired: 2015, LSU Paid Signing
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o Home

Dalton Hilliard was an accomplished runningback from LSU. Considered undersized, but possessing incredible speed paired with excellent cutting ability and balance- Hilliard fit the mold of a protypical slasherback. Dalton joined an impressive group of runners at LSU in 1982, alongside Gene Lang and Garry James. He’d establish himself as the lead back, narrowly missing 1,000 yards. His 16 TDs shattered the Freshman scoring record held by Herschel Walker. From there Hilliard etched himself into the school’s recordbooks, becoming the Tigers’ all-time leading rusher with 4,050 yards.

Dalton was drafted near the top of round 2 by the New Orleans Saints in 1986.  Again, the knock on Hillard centered on his size and durability at the next level, despite his robust productivity. Head Coach Jim Mora was determined to give the Saints a strong rushing game, and unabashedly drafted 3 more backs during the draft: Rueben Mayes (3rd), Barry Word (5th), and Gil Fennerty (7th). In addition, the Saints signed USFL Breakers runningback/ fullback Buford Jordan. Hilliard finished as the team’s second leading rusher his rookie year with 425 yards and 5 TDs, as Mayes established himself as the lead back. 1987 saw Hilliard emerge as a touchdown threat. He’d lead the team in TDs with 8 as the Saints cracked the playoffs with a 12-4 record, in a rotational platoon. As injuries sapped Mayes productivity, Hilliard began to see more playing time.

pset90 hilliard llIn 1989 Dalton had an impact year for the Saints rushing for 1,269 yards and 13 TDs and 52 receptions for 512 yards and 5 TDs. He’d lead the NFL in TDs that year, and earn a Pro Bowl berth.  He’d not get a chance to repeat, as he had a season ending catastrophic knee injury in Week 6 of 1990.

Dalton returned to the Saints for 1991, but was relegated to primarily scat back status, as Fred McAfee and Craig ‘Ironhead’ Heyward, also shared time with Dalton through the 1993 season. After the season the Saints did not reelect to sign him. Dalton decided to retire, less than 100 yards from being the team’s all-time leading rusher.

Hilliard entered into the business world where he’s had a lucrative contracting businesses, and is currently a CEO for an energy corporation.

At one point, I had gotten Dalton’s Starting Lineup figurine, and back in 2011, I sent out for his autograph but never got a response. He was just one of those players who had some amazing looking cards over the years.  Unable to get a response from him, I did a paid signing in 2015 to finally knock him off my list.

G/GS 108/43      Rush  1126    Yds  4,164      Avg   3.7       TD  39      Lg 65 |
Rec  249     Yds 2,223     Avg  9.0      TD  14       Lg  54
KR  25     Yds  526     Avg 21.0    TD 0     Lg 74
Att 7      Comp 4        Yds 114     Pct  57.1     Td 4      Int 0       Rat  141.4

Arena

Rutledge, Wondell (1983-2024)

Card: TNT AFL Talons 2014
Acquired: IP 2014, San Antonio Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Lampasas’, Tx very own homegrown product, Wondell Rutledge played college ball at Toledo.
  • After playing for the Allen Wranglers, he joined the AFL in 2012, and saw stints with the Tampa Bay Storm, Orlando Predators, and the San Jose SabreCats over the next few years.
  • Well versed, Rutledge could handle playing DL, C, FB, and OL.
  • Played in 14 contests in 2014 for the San Antonio Talons.
  • Replaced Colton Jones at C after Jones went down with a season ending injury.
  • Signed with the Rio Grande Valley Sol of the X-League later that year, but ultimately ended up with the Duke City Gladiators of the CIF.
  • Afterwards, Wondell became an international ambassador of football, playing for the Qingdao Clippers of the China AFL.
  • In 2018, he returned stateside and played for the Bismarck Bucks, followed by a 2019 season with the Oklahoma City Aces.
  • From 2020-’23 he played for the West Texas Warbirds in Amarillo, Tx, winning his first championship in 2021.
  • Wyoming was his next stop in his indoor football journey in 2022.
  • Then he took his show to Columbus, GA where he helped the Lions win the league championship in 2023.

NOTES:

I walked up to Wondell on the field where he was chumming around with his friends. In an attempt to embarrass him with his card, I almost had it taken from me, as his mother went berserk when she saw it. As I explained to Wondell why I make these cards and how much I know it means to them as me, the card got passed further and further into the small crowd that had gathered. When she asked if she could keep it, Wondell explained to her, that he had plenty, since I gave him a stack of extras to keep. He excitedly signed my card and thanked me for my work. Later he friended me on Facebook where I continued to follow his exploits in football.

EPITAPH:

3/8/24- On the Columbus Lions’ Instagram feed it was announced with heavy hearts that Wondell had passed away. No cause of death was given. Wondell hoped to go into coaching after his football career ended using the depth of knowledge that he’d earned from his experiences around the world. He was just 41.

NFL

Davis, Mike (RB)

leaf12YS mike davisCard: Leaf Young Rookies 2013
Acquired: 2013,  Box Breaker

A good runner with great balance, instincts, and vision, Mike Davis worked his way into the starting lineup of the South Carolina Gamecocks as a Sophomore, breaking off a 75 yard TD run in not his first game but his first two games. Davis ran for an SEC leading 1,183 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2013- all the more impressive considering he ran for the majority of it in the second half of games. Mike would be the 8th Gamecock to break the century mark, and his hard running helped South Carolina average over 200 yards a game on the ground. In 2014, Davis returned to the Gamecocks running for 982 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also displayed a touch catching the ball out of the backfield with 32 receptions for 368 yards and 2 touchdowns. After the season concluded he declared for the NFL draft. The 49ers selected Mike in the 4th round of the 2015 draft. An excellent value pick, he’s expected to step in and compete immediately for starting time since Frank Gore departed for Indianapolis.

 

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.