I was genuinely surprised to get McLeod’s autograph back on his parallel card after such a long wait. It had been so long that I had just given up in general on it after I had seen a few successes on him trickle in but nothing for me. Maybe he thought he mailed it out or the mailman lost it at the facility and delivered it months or a year later.. Who knows? But he was kind enough to drop the extra UD CFL card in for me.
Kony joined the Cowboys during the 2018 preseason, but was cut.
He’d then sign with the Raiders, but again would be cut before the end of the year.
The next year Kony was selected by and signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL20.
With the season cancelled due to COVID after 5 games, Kony finished with 9 tackles, 2 TFL, and half a sack.
He spent a season then in the CFL with the Argos from 2021 to the end of camp in 2022.
With that it was off for a month with the Vegas Knight Hawks of the IFL.
And then finally another 3 months with the Edmonton Elks before the end of the 2022 season.
NOTES:
Well I had reloaded on Kony after meeting him in person at the Houston Roughnecks team meet and greet for season ticket holders and I was hopeful the league would pick back up in 2021 but unfortunately COVID finished off the XFL20. So I held onto this post and eventually forgot about it.
A few things about Kony. I think if he had found a spot on a team primarily as a situational starter or designated pass rusher, he might’ve stuck around longer at his different stops. It takes a genius of a DC to unlock potential and Kony had plenty of that- as evidenced in his Super Bowl 50 performance when he logged 3 sacks, forced a fumble and made an interception.
I really also relate to the big guy as he has struggled with depression after the loss of his father and sister, and while he was with the Roughnecks, he opened up about it and his battle with it.
ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas Meet & Greet
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Ben Davis played ball at Alabama from 2017-’20, but seldom saw playtime in the Crimson Tide’s LB corps.
Transferred to UT in 2021 and played as a super senior.
Saw action in all 11 games, recording 16 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Going undrafted, Ben played in the CFL with the Edmonton Elks.
In 2023, Ben joined the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.
A team captain, Ben finished with 15 tackles, and 2 tfl in 156 total snaps.
As the Brahmas went through a complete overhaul after joining the UFL and switching coaches, Ben was not brought back in ’24.
After the season concluded Ben was signed by the Houston Roughnecks.
NOTES:
I was surprised that Ben Davis didn’t have a card available- even via Sage/HIT. Anyway I printed out these nice photos of him and away we went! He was super nice and really appreciated that I drove down from Austin, as well as that I was a season ticket holder.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
