Arena

Taylor, Collin

tntafl14 taylorCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: Future considerations, 2014

A walk on at Indiana, Collin Taylor started out as a wide receiver but was converted to free safety during his junior season.  He made his biggest impact on special teams and was named the IU special team’s player of the week 10 times while appearing in 27 games.  Collin was also Indiana’s nominee for the 2009 Rudy Award, honoring Division I football players who demonstrate the exemplary values of inspirational football legend Daniel ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger.  He had an OK pro day at Indiana, but was not invited to the combine for the 2010 NFL draft.

Taylor has seen some serious playing time in the indoor leagues since making his debut in 2010 with the Oklahoma City Yard Dogs. Orignally slated at safety, he had an interception for a touchdown in his only appearance. He then played for the Tulsa Talons (2010) where they allowed Taylor to shift back to his natural position of wide receiver.  He later spent time with the Reading Express (2011), and the Iowa Barnstormers in 2012-2013, before becoming an integral part of the Cleveland Gladiator offense in 2014.

Collin along with a host of other Gladiators came signed to me care of a friend of mine who loves collecting my custom cards. They went over quite well with the players, but I was not able to make any more traction with the league on a contract.

 

NFL, University of Texas

Vaccaro, Kenny

sage13 vaccaroCard: Sage Hit 2013
Acquired: 2014 BB, Target Autograph Memorabilia

Longhorn Kenny Vaccaro punctuated his college career at Texas by being made a first round choice of the New Orleans Saints in 2013. He logged 231 total tackles (158 solo/73 assists), 14 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 5 interceptions, and 24 pass defensed. With a good overall set of athleticism, loose hips, and strength, Vaccaro was seen as a starting caliber safety in the NFL.

The Saints porous defense was going through transition with new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan trying to retool the defensive backfield. Kenny fit right in playing nickle, strong, and free safety.  He’d start 14 games for the team nabbing 62 tackles, 1 sack, 7 pass defensed, 1 interception for 29 yards, and 1 forced fumble.  He was considered a rising star in the young defense. In 2014, the Saints played him at both free and strong safety, but with the team having a difficult season, Vaccaro was benched after 13 games. While the team values his aggressive play, the double-edged sword was his caliber of recklessness. Vaccaro finished his season with 51 tackles, 5 pass defensed, and 2 picks for 45 yards.

I don’t grab the Target Autograph Memorabilia as much as I had in the past because of the lack of names that I had been pulling from them, but wow, I got a nice hit out of the Target grab bag with this one.  Another member of Texas DBU down.

WLAF

Jackson, Ray ‘RJ’ (1965-2019)

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 8/12    Received: 10/20  (69 days)
Failure: 2014, C/o Work

Ray Jackson was a 3 year letterman for Ohio State at cornerback where he posted 103 tackles. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 7th round of the 1989 draft and then bounced around from there to the Atlanta Falcons, and then over to the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.

Afterwards he’d be selected by the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks of the WLAF (4th round, 35th pick) and shifted to Safety in 1991. While the team posted a 0-10 record, it provided plenty of time for the defense to be on the field.  Ray led the team in tackles with 68 (including 50 solo stops), 1 sack, 4 quarterback hurries, 2 forced fumbles and recoveries, an interception, and 3 pass break ups.  After the season the Skyhawks would be euthanized, and the players dropped back into the talent pool of the league draft. In Raleigh-Durham’s place the league elected to create the Ohio Glory. The Glory drafted Jackson with the first pick of the 28th round, but he did not see playing time on the final roster.

Ray studied Criminology at Ohio State and enjoyed the life of a private investigator. Ironically it took a tip from a fellow fan (Deadhorse) who gave me the most obvious clue that I should’ve found- to look at the back of RJ’s card. Apparently he had been doing PI work fairly consistently since leaving football behind and had built himself a practice out of Georgia. I sent out a card the following week to his work, but got an RTS. Later Deadhorse came up with a new address for me to take a shot at and I was able to cross another member of the WLAF off my list.

WLAF 10/10    Tac 68   Sac 1.0   Fum 2  
Int 1     Yds N/a     Avg N/a       Td 0     Lg N/a

WLAFTACSACFUM
10/10681.02
INTYDSAVGTDLG
155.005

UPDATE 9/17/19- Ray Jackson passed away suddenly at the age of 52.

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.