So right after I got De’Veon on a few cards at the Roughnecks event way, way back in 2020, the XFL Topps set was released. In 2023, when the Brahmas played the Renegades in SA, I finally figured out my strategy for getting autographs, but it was only after the Renegades game that I settled in. It’s pretty much worked like a charm since.
After the Brahmas beat the Renegades, I was able to get De’Veon to come over. Any of the players who were ex-AAFers gravitated towards me to give me props. De’Veon for example played for Orlando.
I also reminded him that I was that fan that flagged him down at the scrimmage that the Vipers had against the Roughnecks back in 2020. He smiled widely and said, “I REMEMBER YOU!!!” We exchanged pleasantries and I tried to get his glove off of him but he had already promised it to the kids across the way. No big deal. Next year!
Card: Topps AAF NOW 2019 Acquired: IP 2020, Houston Roughnecks/ Tampa Bay Vipers Joint Practice See Also: De’Veon Smith
After spending a short stint with the Redskins in 2018, De’Veon took his talents to the Alliance of American Football in 2019. He signed with the Orlando Apollos for the season. He quickly entered the league record books, scoring the AAF’s first rushing TD in a 40-6 drubbing of the Atlanta Legends.
De’Veon was part of a 3-headed monster for the Orlando Apollos league leading offense. A compact runner, with a low center of gravity, he finished 6th in the league rushing with 75 carries for 345 yards and 3 TDs. His best game came against Birmingham when he ran 14 times for 119 yards and a 40 yard long.
In 2020, Smith joined the XFL Tampa Bay Vipers. When I heard the Roughnecks were doing a joint practice with the Roughnecks, I gambled I could get his autograph on this card. After practice he almost escaped, but I was able to flag him down. He came over and kindly signed my card and we exchanged pleasantries about the Commanders game that Orlando won that AAF season. He then helped me flag down Tarean Folston who I also really wanted.
De’Veon Smith played 4 years for Michigan from 2013 to 2016. His numbers improved each year rushing for the Wolverines. His best year came as a Senior in 2016 when he carried the ball 181 times for 846 yards and 10 TDs. Over his career at Ann Arbor, he posted a line of 495 carries for 2235 yards and 22 TDs. Smith was not selected in the 2017 NFL Draft. He signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins and made the practice squad after a good preseason. It looked like there he’d stay for the foreseeable future until the Dolphins traded starting runningback Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles. Later in the week the team elevated De’Veon off of the practice squad to the regular season roster.
I hate it when I do a redemption and it takes 5 months to get it. I was really at the point with Panini where I requested a replacement autograph, but their ‘new and improved’ redemption/ customer service system leaves much to be desired. Randomly I got a message that the card was on the way and two days later I got the autograph. Well it is a very nice looking card and De’Veon’s autograph is quality looking for sure. The timing was nearly perfect in the sense that it matched with Smith being elevated off of the practice squad. He caught 3 passes for 27 yards during the regular season, but was not tendered after the season by the Dolphins. Currently he is a free agent.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
