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.
McLeod Bethel-Thompson played one year at QB for UCLA back in 2007.
He completed 23 of 55 passes for 293 yards and 1 TD to 5 picks.
MB-T hopped up to Sacramento state in 2008, where he played QB through 2010.
His time for the Hornets was pockmarked by injuries.
Still in 3 years, he managed to throw for 1322 yards and 7 TDs (8 INT) on 113 of 197 passes.
Undrafted, he played in 2011 for the San Jose Sabre Cats of the Arena Football League, seeing mop up duty.
After a short stint with the 49ers, McLeod signed with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the original UFL in September of 2011.
He’d throw for 355 yards completing 32 of 58 passes against the Virginia Destroyers.
To close out the year MB-T signed with the Dolphins and was placed on their practice squad.
His next stop saw him on the roster of the Minnesota Vikings, where he’d remain through October of 2013.
This led to a series of short stops over the next 3 years as a practice squad or off-season member of the 49ers, Patriots, Vikings, Dolphins, 49ers, and Eagles.
Ultimately this led MB-T to the CFL where he was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2016.
Played in 2017 with The Spring League.
Signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in mid 2017.
After battling his way up the roster from the literal bottom, he became the starting QB in Week 8 of 2018.
Led the CFL in passing rating (105.4) and TDs (26) in 2019.
Played in The Spring League in 2020 for the Aviators after opting out of his contract due to the COVID pandemic.
Returned to the Argonauts in 2021 where he again was involved in a QB battle.
In 2022, led the Argos to a Grey Cup win in the 109th game.
Ultimately his best season as a pro, racking up 4731 yards on 387 of 579 throws with 23 TDs.
The Argonauts decided to go in a different direction at QB, so he signed with the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL.
Finished as the league’s leading passer with 2,433 yards in 2023.
Returned to the CFL in 2024 to play for the Edmonton Elks.
UFL (Original) Offensive Player of the Week Honors
CFL East All-Star 2021, ’22
NOTES:
Joe had passed me along an address for MB-T so I popped a card out to him. I was a bit dismayed not to get anything back. Well after a successful UFL season, and getting lucky on a few autographs that I sent to Joe, he returned the favor by sending me back McLeod and a few others that he’d gotten doubles of. It was quite the shot in the arm!
Cardale Jones played QB for the Ohio State University from 2013-2016.
He got his first start in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2014, when he threw for 257 yards and 3 TDs- and was named MVP of the game.
After a battle with JT Barrett for the starting role, Jones earned the starting nod in 2015.
Started 7 games throwing for 1460 yards and 8 TDs (5 INT), while rushing for 193 yards on 64 carries (2 TD).
Declared for the 2016 NFL Draft.
Selected in the 4th round by the Buffalo Bills.
Buried on the depth chart behind Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel, he completed 6 of 11 passes for 96 yards and an interception his rookie year.
Traded to the Chargers in 2017.
Spent 2018 on the Chargers practice squad.
Released in 2019, and joined the Seahawks for a bit over a week.
Joined the DC Defenders of the XFL20 later that year.
Had a solid debut in the league completing 16 of 26 passes for 291 yards and 2 TDs for the team’s first win.
Finished the abbreviated season with 674 yards on 61 of 113 passing (4 TD to 7 INT).
Briefly was on the radar of the Edmonton Elks of the CFL and then later the Massachusetts Pirates in ’22.
NOTES:
My good friend Seth Lessans- a season ticketholder of the Defenders in 2020, was willing to help me get any autographs I wanted, so I cashed in big time with a bunch of players including Cardale on his Panini Contenders School Colors card. I’ve tried to keep up with Seth, but our communication is spotty for whatever reason. I hope he’s doing okay.
I got a few of these really nice XFL cards of Cardale, but I didn’t want to risk them TTM or pay the going rate I’d seen at a few events of roughly 50 bucks per item. Eventually I was able to find an event through the same broker that got me Pete Mandley a few months ago for an extremely reasonable price. I went ahead and cashed in nearly all my set needs.
Cardale maintains that he still loves the game and is ready to suit up at any time.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
