CARD: Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Orlando Guardians
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Eli Rogers played WR for Louisville from 2011-14.
Consistent and dependable, Rogers never failed to catch less than 41 passes every year.
Over his 4 years with the school he posted 176 receptions for 2020 yards and 12 TDs.
He also moonlighted on punt returns, with 29 career returns for 248 yards.
He spent the entire 2015 campaign on IR with the Steelers after signing as an UDFA.
Earning the final (5th) WR spot with the Steelers that year, he ended up starting 8 games, recording 48 receptions for 594 yards and 3 TDs.
24 of his receptions went for first downs.
With an increasingly crowded WR room and an ACL injury, Rogers saw his playtime decrease over the next two seasons.
After being cut in August of 2019, he’d find his way to the XFL 2020 as a selection of the DC Defenders.
He’d catch 19 passes for 164 yards.
After bouncing around between the Montreal Alouettes (2021), and the Bandits (2022), Eli was a first round pick of the Orlando Guardians in 2023.
Despite the franchise’s early on QB woes, Eli posted 20 catches for 173 yards and a TD.
NOTES:
Eli was one of the first players out onto the field for the Guardians, as he serves as a return man for the Guardians. I moved to this really sweet spot that puts me in earshot of the players. I called out his name and he saw me with my card and pen and flashed a smile. After warm-ups finished and the players started returning to the locker rooms, Eli came over and signed his XFL 2020 card for me. We joked about how I was an OG fan of the XFL in 2020 and how the Defenders were fun to watch, before he kindly signed this card for me.
CARDS: Topps XFL 2020, Topps XFL 2020 Now ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Houston Roughnecks
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Nick Holley was a multi-talented athlete that did it all for Kent State on offense from 2013-17.
He played WR, RB and QB over his time at the school.
As a RB in 2016, he carried the rock 195 times for 920 yards and 10 TDs.
Going undrafted, he eventually latched on with the Rams in 2018.
In 2020, he joined the Houston Roughnecks.
A key contributor to the Roughnecks 5-0 run, Holley could be seen in the slot for H-Town.
He posted 21 receptions for 267 yards and 2 TDs.
Nick returned again to the XFL in 2023, with the Roughnecks as a late signing.
He started 3 games, catching passes for 47 yards and a TD.
Inextricably he’d be cut, much to the disappointment of Roughneck fans whom he became a fan favorite of.
The Brahmas immediately claimed him, and within two games he was a key contributor to the Brahmas beating the Orlando Guardians, catching 4 passes for 103 yards in their win.
On the ’23 season Nick finished with 14 catches for 192 yards and a TD.
NOTES:
Nick was a major factor in my XFL Fantasy Championship run, so I had to get his autograph on his cards. Nick joined the Brahmas before playing the Roughnecks, so I packed his cards and bet he might stop by the visitors side to talk to Roughneck fans and players. I was right, and I was able to get him to come over and sign these two cards for me. The Topps Now card of Nick, I’d probably have never risked in the mail as the print run on this card is just 169.
Cameron played sparingly for the Panthers through the 2019 campaign.
He’d be selected by the Dallas Renegades of the XFL 2020.
Artis-Payne worked his way into the starter role rushing for 241 yards (41 carries), 2 TDs, as well as 23 receptions for 101 yards before the league folded.
In 2021, he signed with the Montreal Alouettes.
Rushed for 225 yards on 45 carries and a TD in 5 contests.
NOTES:
When Cameron was selected by the Renegades, I knew they were getting a great change of pace back. I was equally surprised that he was available to the XFL based on his previous light NFL experience.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
