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.
CARD: Upper Deck USFL 2023 ACQUIRED: IP 2024, San Antonio Brahmas v Birmingham Stallions
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
CJ Marable played college ball at Arkansas State in 2016, but after seeing little time on the field, transferred to Coastal Carolina.
In 3 years playing for the Chanticleers, he ran for 2691 yards on 491 carries scoring 29 TDs.
He also was a solid receiving option catching 84 passes for 703 yards and 12 TDs.
Signed as an UDFA by the Bears, he’d be waived at the end of camp.
Selected in the 28th round of the 2022 USFL Draft by the Birmingham Stallions.
Solid debut rushing 102 times for 401 yards and 5 TDs, while catching 20 passes for 161 yards for Birmingham.
After being waived by the Patriots, he’d return to the Stallions for 2023, catching 28 passes for 235 yards and 2 TDs, while rushing for 524 yards on 118 carries (2 TDs).
In his 3rd season with the Stallions, CJ rushed 80 times for 293 yards (4 TD) and caught 10 passes for 45 yards.
Birmingham Stallions (8-0) v San Antonio Brahmas (6-2), 5/25/24 CJ MARABLE R 2 YDS 17 AVG 8.5 TD 0 LG 11 REC 1 YDS 2 AVG 2.0 TD 0 LG 2
ACCOLADES:
USFL Player of the Week 2022 (Week 5)
NOTES:
I didn’t hold out much hope getting any Stallions autographs after the Brahmas game. They had just suffered their first loss in over a year and they looked bushwhacked and tired. Still you have to hand it to them that they are happy to have fans. I was able to waive him over, and he kindly signed 3 cards including this 1/499. The other two I sent to my friends Joe and Mark (Mark’s Signing Bonus). CJ has a great big autograph, and I love it.
I thought I’d push it a bit further and ask him for his glove, to which he responded, “For a true fan, I got you bruh.” Big win. Getting back to basics: This is how a league really courts fans.
Channing suited up for the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL in 2020.
After the league folded due to COVID, he returned to the CFL and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, whom he’d been with briefly before signing with the XFL.
In 2022, he played for the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL.
He’d intercept 7 passes for 121 yards and make 14 tackles.
Afterwards, briefly was on the offseason roster of the Washington Commanders.
Although drafted by the Battlehawks of the XFL 23, Stribling opted to resign with the Stars.
With the USFL and XFL merged, Stribling was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2024 player dispersal draft.
Ultimately ended up on the roster of the Battlehawks- but was cut during the regular season.
NOTES:
Channing was on a shortlist of players I really wanted since he was impossible to get TTM and he had… four(?) cards I was looking to get signed. Since players didn’t really pay any attention to me pregame, I decided to troll the Battlehawks players.
I yelled at Channing that he wasn’t fooling anyone, since he changed his number from 41 to 14. (Wikipedia even showed it as 41.) I then heckled him about his time with the Express. He smiled and after the game gladly came over and inked these 4 cards. When he looked at them, he called them ‘classic’.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
