Card: Topps AAF 2019 Acquired: 2019, Washington Defenders Open House
KeShun Freeman was a 4 year starter at defensive end for the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets. A captain for the team, he posted 159 total tackles, 8 sacks, 20.5 tackles for loss, 4 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles.
Keshun joined the New Orleans Saints in training camp in 2018, but did not make the squad. He then played for the Atlanta Legends of the AAF where they let him continue to hone his craft more as a tweener. Freeman finished with 14 tackles and .5 sacks in 8 games before the league folded in April of 2019.
Keshun started for the XFL’s DC Defenders in 2020 seeing action at defensive end, outside linebacker and middle linebacker. An integral member on special teams, he finished with 17 tackles in 5 games for the Defenders solid defense.
I really liked Keshun’s card and it was high on my list to get autographed. I have made a few friends on Twitter, and after the collapse of the AAF, became fast friends with a fellow football historian. He had season tickets to the Defenders and offered to get autographs for me, which I excitedly jumped at. It goes to prove that kindness and charity are not done for yet.
Card: Topps AAF NOW 2019 Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home Sent: 6/30 Received: 12/10 (163 days) See Also: AJ Tarpley
I really liked the San Diego Fleet. They had a lot of great players on the team, but among them AJ Tarpley was probably my favorite. He had already signed his card previously for me, but this AAF card of his was quite expensive at the time, so I bided my time until I could get it at a great price, and then take a shot at getting him to sign this card of his. A bittersweet card- it frames the moment when AJ dashed the Commanders perfect season hopes, as the Fleet went out on top 12-8 and never looked back.
During the dog days of COVID I was working from home and decided to pick up a jersey or two of my favorite AAF players. Since the Fleet for some reason didn’t have any specific player jerseys, I picked up one of AJ. It looks great, and I can not believe how accurate the Chinese retailer got this jersey to look like the real thing!
After the AAF folded, AJ did not have to wait long for his name to be called as he was selected by the Washington Defenders of the XFL for their 2020 season during the open portion of the league’s draft. He played in 3 games (starting 2) for DC, logging 16 total tackles.
AJ left me sweating bullets about this card, but after seeing my jersey online I got of him- it jogged his memory and he shot it back to me with a nice note thanking me for being a fan. I am eager to hopefully see him suit up again in the XFL in 2022.
Connor Davis hails from Stony Brook. At 6’7″, 275, the tight end towers over other defenders, but he played all over the place during his time with the Seawolves, playing defensive line, offensive tackle… and tight end. He bulked up and turned some heads at mini camps with the Giants, but did not make the squad. The Alliance of American Football liked his athletic skill set in tryouts and thought he’d make a great fit for the league, so Davis was signed by the Birmingham Iron. Connor played in two games, starting one, and had 3 catches for 9 yards on 5 targets- before he was injured and his season ended on IR.
Connor’s football journey continued as he was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
