Gary had some great cards from back in the day. The Razorback stuck around just long enough to get into Pro Set, Action Packed, and Gameday sets, as well as Skybox. He had some really great action shots too. -It had been roughly 5 or 6 years since I had gotten him last so I had to come back and grab him on a few more.
CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 Certified, Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Orlando Guardians
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Defensive Lineman Stansly Maponga played college ball at TCU from 2010-12.
In 2011 he posted 55 total tackles, 13.5 TFL, 9 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles.
He was a 5th round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2015.
After not making the final cuts, he was resigned to the practice squad by the Falcons.
The Giants signed him later in 2017 to their regular season roster, and then retained him on their practice squad after the year.
Maponga then spent the next year or two of and on the practice squad and in the futures contract game with the Cowboys (2017), and Broncos (2017-18).
In late 2019, he’d be the first defender selected by the Seattle Dragons of the XFL for 2020.
On the 5 game season, he’d post 15 tackles.
After a brief flirtation with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL (2021), he’d be selected by the Orlando Guardians of the XFL 2023.
On the season Stansly posted 22 total tackles, and 2.5 sacks starting 9 games for the Guardians.
NOTES:
Stansly was another player within earshot as he left the field to go back to the locker room after warm-ups. He got past me, but when I called out his name, he was probably impressed that I knew how to pronounce it properly in the first place- turned around and came back to me. He graciously signed this card for me. I was really impressed by the broadness of his shoulders. He had gigantic shoulder pads for his size. We also joked about the fact he played for the Dragons, sans ‘Sea’.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.