Keith Elias was the most prolific runningback to come out of the Ivy League since…. Ed Marinaro. At Princeton he shattered many of the school and league single season and career rushing marks from 1991-1993. At the time of his departure from the school, Elias held 4 I-AA records and 21 school career records including: rushing (4,208 yards), rushing touchdowns (49), yards rushing per game (140.3), carries (736), carries per game (24.5), yards per carry (5.72), all-purpose yards (4,739), overall touchdowns (52) and points (320).
After going unselected primarily due to the prevailing small school stigma, Keith signed with the nearby New York Giants as a free agent in 1994. He made the squad but after getting injured early in the season, he saw little playing time. Facing a stacked roster in 1995, Elias made the team based on his preseason performance and willingness to play special teams, endearing him to fans. He climbed the depth chart in 1996 and looked to be the team’s primary scatback on 3rd downs- but injuries again hindered his season.
Keith picked back up playing football in 1998 this time with a change of scenery playing for the Indianapolis Colts as a back up and special teams captain, moonlighting on returns. He’d be cut in 2000, and join the XFL New York /New Jersey Hitmen in the XFL that year, before retiring.
Topps XFL 2000 set was frankly- gaudy looking, but the certified autographs in there were just horrifically designed. My friend Joe, from a Facebook group I manage popped this in the mail to me as a gift, which I thought was really nice. Although I was not needing this autograph, I am more than happy to accept it into my collection as every player has a story to tell.
Trey Williams hails from Texas A&M- a school full of rich history in producing runningbacks. While playing for the Aggies, he ran 204 time for 1343 yards and 18 TDs in 3 years (2012-2014). What was most impressive was his gaudy 6.6 yards per carry. He also caught 38 passes for 330 yards and a TD as well. Although he had a solid combine, Williams ultimately was not selected in the 2015 draft.
He’d sign with his hometown Houston Texans after the draft, then quickly join the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, the Patriots, the Dolphins, and finally the Colts- all before 2015 came to a close. After being cut by the Colts in mid-2016, Trey kept hustling. He signed with the Steelers early in 2017, then briefly joined the Argos in the CFL. In November of 2017, Williams signed with the Dallas Cowboys again where he’d be waived in final cuts during 2018.
I can’t imagine how frustrating it would be to have highlight film that made preseason sportscenter.. such as scoring a TD on his first ever preseason carry from 20+ yards out, or returning a punt for a 64 yard TD with the Steelers- but somehow miss out on making the squad.
Trey opted to head to the new frontier of the Alliance of American Football in 2019. He’d be assigned to the San Antonio Commanders. After missing the first two weeks of the season for personal reasons, Trey played in the next 6 finishing with 40 carries for 205 yards and a TD. He’d also catch 9 passes for 71 yards and a TD as well.
An exciting sparkplug, Williams provided a change of pace to lead back Kenneth Farrow II in the Commanders backfield. An outside the tackles kind of guy, Williams is very good at dodging people in space. This makes him quite effective at screen passes and out in the flat. He quickly became my favorite player just behind Greg Ward Jr.
His finest moment in the AAF came in Week 7 against the formidable Salt Lake City Stallions. The Stallions had a very stubborn defense. After trading field position for most of the game and keeping it close, QB Marquise Williams dropped a screen pass out to Trey. He bobbed and weaved through the SLC defense 36 yards and then dove into the endzone for a TD. It was really incredible to watch!
After the AAF folded, Trey joined the XFL 2020, where he was the first player selected in the open portion of the draft by the Seattle Dragons. He’d be reunited with his coach from the Commanders, Mike Riley, and a bevvy of former teammates including Kenneth Farrow. He ran 34 times for 122 yards and a TD for the Dragons, and catch 8 passes for 44 yards and a TD- before the league folded after week 5.
I first missed out on an in person signing in Houston during 2019. I would’ve driven there just to get his autograph on a bunch of cards and meet him, but I had been to in person events frequently that year, and I did not wish to antagonize my wife. I also had the Topps AAF Now card I was worried about risking, so these just sat, and then I added a few more to the stack including the XFL card.
After a while I just decided to buy a few certified cards of Trey, thinking I’d call it a day, but a few months later my partner in crime, Mark, acted on an address I had long suspected of being Trey’s- and hit pay dirt. It took me a bit to get back to Trey. I miss the Commanders and the AAF a lot, but frankly, we all know it wouldn’t have made it probably through 2020 – because of the pandemic. (See the XFL 2020.) Still after being stuck in the mud the last few months on AAF/XFL send outs, I went back to it taking the risk that Trey would ink these cards. I would have preferred a different color than silver- but I can’t look this gift horse in the mouth.
Deatrick Nichols played cornerback for 3 years at South Florida from 2014-2018. He concluded his college career with 174 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 24 pass deflections, and 11 interceptions for 109 yards and a TD.
He wasn’t selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, but made the squad of the Arizona Cardinals eventually being elevated off the practice squad and into the lineup a few times during the season. After being waived, Nichols was selected by the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL 2020. Deatrick led the XFL with 3 interceptions, 6 pass deflections, a sack, and 24 tackles in 5 contests.
After the league suspended operations, Deatrick has been on the off-season rosters of the New Orleans Saints, and the Miami Dolphins.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
