NFL

Gooden, Zaviar

leaf12 goodenCard: Leaf Draft 2013
Acquired: 2013, Box Breaker

Considered merely a solid 3rd day pick, Zaviar Gooden shot up the draft boards after excellent combine and postseason workouts where he dominated his position across the board.  A Pflugerville, Tx native (that’s pronounced Flu-ger-ville) within spitting distance of Austin, Tx, -and the Longhorns, Gooden signed with the Missouri Tigers where he converted from Safety to linebacker. By his Sophomore season he was entrenched at the position, earning a respectable 84 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 picks. His Junior season was equally impressive with 80 tackles, a sack, and 2 more interceptions. While a hamstring injury limited him to only 10 games in 2012, Gooden managed to still have 61 tackles and an interception to his credit.  After his stellar combine numbers, teams saw him as a linebacker with incredible upside that could play the weakside of the field for the defense, as Zaviar has great speed for the position (4.47).

The Tennessee Titans drafted Gooden in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft, which was a surprise considering the team didn’t really have a dire need at the position with Zach Brown under contract. It is theorized that the team will groom Zaviar in the meantime and let him play on special teams. He finished his rookie season with 12 tackles, including a season high 7 in a 37-34 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

NFL, University of Texas

Sims, Kenneth “Special K”

sco90 ksimsCards: Score 1990, Fleer 1990.
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent: 3/10    Received: 4/8  (29 days)

Kenneth Sims spent his ‘apprentice years’ learning the defensive tackle rotating in behind Steve McMichael and then exploded onto the national scene in his Junior season, racking up 131 tackles for the University of Texas. He was an all All-American at the university in his Senior year, winning the Lombardi Award, and finishing as a runner up (8th) for the Heisman Trophy. He’d average 12 tackles a game over his career for the Longhorns.

Ken parlayed his amazing performance at the University of Texas into being the overall #1 pick of the 1982 draft. At 6’5″, 291 Ken certainly posessed the size and athleticism to anchor the defensive line in the 3-4 alignment for the New England Patriots. The Patriots felt they could kick him outside to play left defensive end. (Ironically McMichael also had a short stint with the Patriots after being drafted by them out of UT as well, but was cut and went on to greater glory for the Chicago Bears.) Sims career unfortunately flr90 ksimswould be marred by injury, and only played 1 full 16 game slate in 1984 recording 96 tackles. During the Patriots improbable 1985 Super Bowl run (XX), Ken had perhaps his finest season, finishing with 5.5 sacks, 65 tackles, and 2 fumble recoveries in 13 games, but injuries during the 1983, 1986, and 1988 seasons, wiped out nearly 3 full seasons of play. He’d retire after the 1989 season back to the Austin area where he’s begun dabbling in sports radio. Ken is an avid Longhorn sports fan and has spent time at the University studying sports management.

G/Gs 74/64    Tac  364   Sac 17    Fum 5   Int  0   Yds  0     Avg -.-    Td 0     Lg -.-

 

Arena

Ruffins, Moqut

tntafl14 ruffinsCard: TNT AFL Talons 2014
Acquired: In Person, 5/3/2014 Talons vs. Barnstormers.

An imposing player on the field clocking in at an impressive 6’5″, 320, Moqut Ruffins is a versatile athlete, who played defensive line during his time at Louisiana Tech. He recorded 79 tackles and 3 sacks for the Bulldogs before joining the AFL in 2010 with Bossier-Shreveport. There he’d make the jump to offense and started playing offensive line and tight end. Along the way he’s also played for the New Orleans Voodoo (2011) and the Pittsburgh Power (2012), before joining the San Antonio Talons. Moqut recorded a career high 17 receptions for 181 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2013, and then again in 2014 with 19 catches for 151 yards and another 5 scores. The Talons in particular enjoyed utilizing Moqut on tight end screens where he was a devastating option for the San Antonio offense.

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