Category Archives: ufl

Williams, Marlon

Upper Deck USFL 2023, #14

CARD: Upper Deck USFL 2023
ACQUIRED: IP 2024, San Antonio Brahmas v Birmingham Stallions

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Marlon Williams played WR at UCF from 2017-’20.
  • In each year he saw his playing time and catches increase.
  • During 2020 he had 71 receptions for 1039 yards and 10 TDs.
  • Went unselected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
  • Signed with the Houston Texans but was cut before camp.
  • Joined the USFL in 2022 and played for the Birmingham Stallions.
  • In the inaugural season he caught 32 passes for 474 yards and 4 TDs.
  • His yards ranked 3rd in the league while his receiving TDs ranked second.
  • Contributed mightily to the Stallions USFL Championship that season, catching 7 passes for 105 yards and a TD.
  • Resigned for the 2023 season, injuries limited him to just one start.
  • Returned in 2024 for Stallions’ 3rd season, and caught 26 passes for 313 yards and 4 TDs.

NOTES:

Marlon was one of the few Stallions I caught walking off the field at the end of the contest. He saw the card and flashed a smile and came over and signed two for me. It’s a great looking card bordered by some boring looking design work.

Stoops, Bob ‘Big Game Bob’

Topps XFL 2020, #5

CARD: Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, C/o Home
SENT: 7/21/20 RECEIVED: 8/14/20 (24 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Bob Stoops played DB at Iowa from 1979-’82.
  • Over his college career he intercepted 10 passes for 80 yards.
  • Undrafted in 1983, he went into coaching.
  • Worked his way up as a graduate assistant (Iowa) all the way to defensive coordinator (Florida 1996-’98).
  • Took the reins as head coach at Oklahoma at 1999, and restored to the school as a national powerhouse.
  • Won the National Championship in 2000.
  • In all 17 seasons at the helm of Oklahoma, Bob took the Sooners to a bowl game.
  • He finished with a 191-48 college coaching record.
  • Retired from college coaching in 2017.
  • Opted to return to football for the XFL in 2020 as one of their flagship coaches leading the Dallas Renegades.
  • Returned in 2023, after the league reorganized due to COVID, coaching the now Arlington Renegades.
  • After a difficult start, Bob pulled off a trade for Luis Perez, and led the 4-6 Renegades to upsets over the Roughnecks and Defenders to win the XFL Championship Game.
  • Returned to the Renegades for the ’24 season, and while the team was competitive in every game, they ultimately finished with a disappointing 3-7 record.

ACCOLADES:

  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • AP Coach of the Year 2000
  • Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant Award 2000
  • Walter Camp Coach of the Year 2000, ’03

NOTES:

Stoops is technically a member of the Hayden Fry coaching tree. Stoops himself has a growing resume of young and upcoming coaches who served under him.

I think what sticks out to me the most, other than Bob’s excellent and well practiced autograph adorning this card, was his response to my request.

Recently I’ve been sending out note cards, to ask coaches to draw me up a play. I love collecting plays and getting an idea of their ‘coaching DNA’- y’know what’s on their mind.

I asked Bob to draw me up a play, and his response was simple and succinctly written on the note card:

“NO PLAYS.”

Scott, Delontae

TNT XFL 2023, #8

CARD: TNT XFL 2023
ACQUIRED: IP 2024, San Antonio Brahmas v Birmingham Stallions

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Delontae Scott played college ball at SMU from 2016-’19.
  • DL that had 97 career tackles, 36 TFL, 18.0 sacks, 4 FF, and a blocked FG over college career.
  • Appeared in 3 games over two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021-’22.
  • Then briefly spent roughly a month with the Panthers in late 2022.
  • 2023 4th Round Supplemental Pick of the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.
  • As a tweener, had banner year posting 36 total tackles, and 7.5 sacks.
  • Signed briefly with the Atlanta Falcons that year.
  • Then resigned late in January 2024 with the San Antonio Brahmas.
  • Finished ’24 with 15 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.

ACCOLADES:

  • All XFL 2023
Birmingham Stallions (8-0) v San Antonio Brahmas (6-2), 5/25/24
DELONTAE SCOTT TAC 2 SAC 1.0

NOTES:

Delontae Scott was the last player I got post game, after the Brahmas upset the previously unbeaten Stallions at the Alamodome. I saw him hugging his kid and talking to his wife, so I rushed around the side to get him. I got his attention when I told him I had cards of him, and he came over curiously and said, “This is pretty cool.” I told him he could have a few for his family and his eyes got pretty big. I then asked for his glove as well as an autograph, and he responded with, “Absolutely!”

After they let the season ticket holders onto the field, Delontae was one of the players who came back out to thank us for sticking with them throughout the last season and this one, as well as making a lot of noise to really frustrate the Stallions offense.