Tag Archives: dc defenders

NFL, usfl, XFL

Ta’Amu, Jordan

TNT XFL 2023 Custom
Topps XFL 2020, Future Stars #14
Topps XFL 2020, #116

CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 GREEN 43/99, Topps XFL 2020 Stars of the Future, Topps NOW 2020 2.16.20, Topps NOW 2020 2.9.20, TNT XFL 2023
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2023 San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders. IP, 2024 San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders.
FAILURE: TTM 2020, C/o The Kansas City Chiefs

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jordan Ta’Amu played college ball for Ole Miss from 2017-’18.
  • In 2 years he was 381/591 for 5,600 yards, 30 TDs and 12 picks.
  • Based on his limited resume at QB he went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
  • He was a camp arm for the Texans that year for roughly the month of August.
  • Afterwards he decided to try his hand in the XFL in 2020 and was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks.
  • He had an exceptional start to his season, showing poise with his arm and opportunistic legs, but before he could finish his season, the XFL ended due to COVID.
  • Signed with the Chiefs in April of ’20, and was a member of the practice squad through October.
  • Joined the Lions PS, but was resigned to the Chiefs in ’21 through a futures contract.
  • Jordan had cups of coffee with the Lions (again), Redskins, and Panthers, before landing with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL in 2022.
  • He finished as the league’s leader in passing yards (2,014) and TDs (14).
  • Ta’amu joined the XFL23 as a member of the DC Defenders.
  • He’d lead the team to the XFL Championship game, throwing for 1,894 yards and 14 TDs.
  • In August of 2023, he’d again be brought in briefly- this time by the Minnesota Vikings.
  • As a late addition, Jordan returned to the Defenders for the 2024 season.
  • He finished with 1,846 yards passing, and 15 TDs- both ranking second in the UFL.
Topps XFL NOW 2020, #11
Topps XFL NOW 2020, #7

ACCOLADES:

  • XFL Offensive Player of the Year 2023
  • All-XFL 2023

NOTES:

Before the game I had spotted the Ta’Amu family wearing matching jerseys. I keyed in on them figuring that they’d know where to go to be able to get close enough to get his autograph. After the game the Defenders were lingering after their victory so I wandered over to their side and picked up an autograph from Santos Ramirez. The gatekeepers of the Alamodome were getting more aggressive about telling me to leave but I ignored them as long as possible. Santos was shocked he had a card so I gambled he wouldn’t mind slipping over to get Jordan on his base card.

After I secured the autograph much to Santos’ credit, I went outside and found the team busses. His family was waiting outside there and told me that he wouldn’t have a problem signing the rest of my cards if I just hung out long enough. We talked about his career and they told me that he’d hoped to have played closer to Texas than Washington but he was happy to be playing. They all admired his limited print Topps XFL NOW 2020 cards- and when he came out he said hello to them and he signed the remaining cards including an additional one I gifted to my friend Mark- of Mark’s Signing Bonus. A big win for me as Ta’Amu doesn’t sign TTM.

In 2024, the Brahmas first game was against the Defenders at home. I printed out my custom XFL card and was able to get him to sign it before the game started. It was I think the only one I got signed that day, and although disappointed with the lack of a haul I got, I was happy with getting this one gem.

If I’m very lucky maybe I’ll pick up that final short run Topps NOW XFL 2023 (#22) card of him and get him to sign that too but it’s been on and off the market so many times, I’ve forgotten to purchase it.

CFL, usfl, XFL

Rogers, Eli

Topps XFL 2020, #122

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.

NFL, XFL

Thompkins, DeAndre

Topps XFL 2020, #AU -DT

CARD: Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: 2020, Box Breaker

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Accumulated 83 receptions for 1245 yards and 6 TDs while playing at Penn State from 2015-18.
  • Was not selected in 2018 NFL Draft, but was later signed by the Eagles.
  • Selected in the 4th round of the 2020 XFL Draft by the DC Defenders.
  • Had best game in 27-0 win over the NY Guardians in Week 2, posting 6 receptions for 67 yards and a TD.
  • In 5 games totaled 7 receptions for 85 yards and a TD, while also rushing 2 times for 33 yards.
  • Saw time in training camps with both the Steelers (2020) and Packers (2021).