Kendrick Starling played WR at Navarro JC in 1999 and 2000.
He caught 111 passes for 2305 yards and 26 TDs.
Joined Marshall University for 2001, and later transferred for San Jose State in 2002.
Kendrick Starling played for the Spartans for two years.
In 23 games he had 77 receptions for 899 yards and 5 TDs.
He also led the conference in yards per return on kick returns, averaging 28.1 yards on 20 returns, netting 562 yards.
Undrafted in 2004, he’d sign with the Houston Texans.
He made the squad that year, used primarily on special teams seeing action in 8 contests.
In 2005 Starling hopped around practice squads, leaving the Texans for Seattle, and later in the season for New Orleans.
Rejoined the Texans in 2006 and was allocated to NFL Europa to play for the Rhein Fire.
A long bomb threat, Kendrick caught 13 passes for 320 yards and 3 TDs, and lead the league with 24.6 yards per reception.
After being waived by the Texans after camp in 2006, Starling signed with the Eskimos the following year in 2007.
He’d catch 2 passes for 18 yards for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats that season in 3 contests.
In 2025, Starling was sentenced to 25 years in prison for abuse of a child.
NOTES:
The Texans during this period were always looking for a long bomb solution to groom next to Andre Johnson. Someone who could also be a special teams kick or punt returner as well. Starling fit that bill and I remember really hoping he’d pan out. He was considered a deep sleeper entering the draft. He quickly developed into a guy you could cheer for, with a fun personality, style, but a humble willingness to learn. Unfortunately things did not work out for him.
Doran Grant played college ball at Ohio State from 2011 to 2014.
At DB/CB he tallied 140 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 19 pass deflections, 9 interceptions for 146 yards and a TD.
Selected in the 4th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Steelers.
Over the next few seasons, Doran was on and off the Practice squad of the Steelers, Bills, Giants, Jaguars, and Bears.
Late in 2018 signed with the Atlanta Legends of the AAF.
Finished with 12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 4 pass deflections in 8 contests.
Played for the Defenders of the XFL in 2020 starting one contest.
Posted 7 tackles and 1 pass deflection for DC in 5 games.
He’d sign with the Blue Bombers after the XFL folded due to COVID.
After the CFL cancelled the season due to COVID, he opted out of play.
Grant went into coaching where he has been coaching at the high school level.
NOTES:
My friend Seth helped me get Doran way back when he joined the DC Defenders. He said all the players were excited to sign their cards at the team meet and greet. The certified is basically a zoomed up version of his base card. Still it looks good and I am fortunate Seth was kind enough to help me out.
Akili Smith was a two year starter for the Oregon Ducks from 1997-’98.
In 1998, He completed 191 of 325 passes for 3,307 yards and 30 TDs.
That season he led the PAC-10 in completion percentage (58.8), yards, TDs, Yards per attempt (10.2), yards per game (300.2) and Rating (170.4).
He’d declare for the 1999 draft and be the 3rd quarterback taken off the board with the 3rd overall pick, (behind Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb), by the Cincinnati Bengals.
He played four seasons for the Bengals from 1999-’02.
During his rookie season, he led the Bengals to an 18-17 win over the Browns, completing 25 of 42 passes for 221 yards and 2 TDs.
Dealing with a nagging toe injury, the Bengals opted to shut him down after week 8.
Akili returned for the 2000 campaign but struggled to find his footing as the starter and eventually was benched.
On the season, Smith finished 118 of 267 for 1253 yards and 3 TDs to 6 picks in 12 contests.
He saw action in two contests in 2001, but popped his hamstring in week 14 and didn’t return to action.
Released in 2003, he signed with the Packers but was unable to latch on with the team after camp.
After a more than a year off, Akili was allocated to the NFLE where he played for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2005.
Smith completed 53 of 84 passes for 589 yards and 2 TDs to 2 interceptions, and ran for another TD as well.
Earned an audition with the Buccaneers but would be released before the preseason.
Joined the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL in 2006 but didn’t make the roster.
At last glance in 2025 was a high school football coach in California.
NOTES:
So WHY did the Bengals draft Akili knowing what they knew about his poor Wonderlic stats? Why did the Bengals draft Akili with Mike Ditka and the Saints attempting to trade everything in their draft to move up to 3 to select Ricky Williams? Why when both Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb just went off the board did the Bengals still bank on Akili?
Well, in 1998 Peyton Manning had just been drafted by the Colts out of Tennessee. Smith had an incredible breakout season by any regards for a quarterback in the 90s. He had an electric comeback against the Bruins where he just put the team on his shoulders and won the game, and his 1998 season was superior (dare I say) to Manning’s statistically, AND Smith could make teams pay with his running ability.
The Bengals franchise was obviously NOT the place he should’ve gone, and one wonders what would’ve happened if Culpepper or McNabb ended up at Riverfront and Smith somewhere else how that would’ve played out.
That being said not only did Smith hold out to start things off, he had a penchant for relying on his athleticism and not studying his playbook. We’ve seen this movie before, and it only ends in disaster.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
