Cards: Score 2009, Score 2010, Topps Prime 2010, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Longevity, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2009 Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Work Sent:11/12/18 Received: 7/9/19 (239 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Austin Collie played WR at BYU in 2004, 2007, and 2008.
In 2008, he smashed school records and led the conference with 106 catches for 1,538 yards and 15 TDs.
He’d be selected in the 4th round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
In Austin’s rookie season he battled Pierre Garcon for the starting position in the slot.
Collie finished with 676 yards on 60 catches, scoring 7 TDs.
In 2010, Collie caught 58 passes for 649 yards and 8 TDs in 9 games, but suffered two concussions in non-consecutive games- shortening and eventually ending his season.
Rolling into 2011, with Peyton Manning on IR, the team trotted out Curtis Painter initially, but later saw both Dan Orlovsky and Kerry Collins take snaps at QB.
Collie’s numbers suffered, as his yards per reception dropped (9.5) and his TD catches plummeted (1).
He’d again suffer a concussion during the 2012 NFL season, and later during the regular season- a season ending knee injury.
Signed with the 49ers, but didn’t make it through the final roster cuts.
Joined the Patriots and was on and off the roster throughout the 2013 season catching 6 passes for 63 yards on the season.
After a year out of football, Collie played in the CFL for the BC Lions in 2015.
On the season, he caught 43 passes for 439 yards and 7 TDs.
Retired in 2018 and currently works in the medical field treating concussions.
NOTES:
I don’t recall sending Austin a Topps Prime 2010, so it was nice of him to include it with the bevy of cards I sent to him- which covered all my set needs during that period and as well as the additional 2009 Upper Deck Star Rookies card.
CARD: Topps AAF 2019 ACQUIRED: 2019, Box Breaker FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o The Minnesota Vikings. TTM 2024, C/o Work
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Duke Thomas played DB at Texas from 2012-’15.
He cut his teeth on special teams his rookie year finishing with 8 ST tackles.
In 2013, Thomas started 10 contests- posting 3 picks.
Thomas went on to have a solid year in ’14, finishing with 53 tackles, 10 pass breakups and 3 interceptions.
As teams threw away from him in his Senior campaign, Duke only had 1 interception, but also contributed 5 PBUs and 3 TFL, and 58 tackles.
Undrafted he signed with the Houston Texans in 2016- but did not make the squad.
This led to practice squad stints that year with both the Eagles, and ‘9ers.
Things looked promising as Duke was signed to a futures contract in 2018 by the Dallas Cowboys, but an injury ended his season early and he’d be released with an injury settlement.
After a short stop with the Toronto Argos, Duke signed in December of 2018 with the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF.
He posted 22 tackles, 4 PBUs and a pick in 8 contests before the league shut down in April of 2019.
Duke was snapped up by the Vikings, but was a camp cut.
Then he joined the Cards in late 2019- again being designated with a futures contract.
Cut during camp in 2020, he then spent a month in January of ’21 with the Bills before hanging up his cleats.
NOTES:
Duke has a Topps AAF 2019 base set card I really want to get signed. I was pretty irritated that someone else I knew got him TTM through the Vikes after I told him that I had sent out to him there- but I did not.
I tried again through another address, but had no luck.
CARD: Hartford Colonials Team Set 2010 ACQUIRED: 2021, Future Considerations
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Dahna Deleston played S for Connecticut from 2005-’08.
In his Junior campaign he tallied 103 combined tackles, 2 tackles for loss 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and an interception.
He then posted 60 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble in 2008.
In Dahna’s final game, the 2009 International Bowl he intercepted a pass from Drew Wily late in the 4th quarter that he returned a school and game record 100 yards for a TD.
After the season he participated in the Texas versus The Nation All-Star Game.
He’d go undrafted and see time in the camp of the Chicago Bears in 2009 but not make the final roster.
Played with the Hartford Colonials of the original UFL in 2010.
When the team was folded before the 2011 season, Dahna was not resigned.
NOTES:
A nice little bonus card that I received when I picked up that huge influx of Frankfurt Galaxy cards and autographs- it was a nice little slice of history learning about Dahna.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
