CARDS: UT Upper Deck 2011 HACK, UT 2026 ACQUIRED: IP, 2026
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Ramonce Taylor played RB at Texas from 2004 to 2005.
As a Freshman he ran for 284 yards on 28 carries scoring his first college TD against Oklahoma State, primarily backing up Cedric Benson.
He also completed a pass for 48 yards against Missouri.
During the Rose Bowl against Michigan on New Year’s Day, he returned 7 kicks for 201 yards, helping the Longhorns beat Michigan 38-37.
In 2005, Ramonce rushed for 513 yards on 76 carries, scoring 12 TDs.
Twice during the team’s national championship run, he ran for a career high 102 yards.
He also displayed a gift for receiving, catching 27 passes for 265 yards and 3 TDs.
In the National Championship game against USC, Ramonce Ran 4 times for 12 yards, but most importantly scored a TD in Texas’ 41-38 win.
Over his college career he rushed 104 times for 797 yards and 13 TDs, to go along with 30 receptions for 329 yards and 3 TDs.
He also had 26 kick returns for 701 yards.
In 2005, Ramonce made a series of bad decisions, which cascaded and culminated in him being dismissed from the football team.
Caught between a rock and a hard place he ended up declaring as a Junior, but after a bad combine, he slipped off NFL team’s draft boards.
Despite making some more questionable decisions, Ramonce kept in football shape.
In 2009 he got back on the football radar with the Rio Grande Valley Dorados of the AF2.
Very quickly he jumped to the CFL, and was with the Blue Bombers for the preseason, before returning back to the Dorados.
Spent 2009 with the Edmonton Eskimos but didn’t see any playing time.
2011 saw Ramonce return to the AF2, this time with the Rio Grande Valley Magic.
He’d then spend the remainder of his career in North Texas first with the Allen Wranglers in 2012 and then the Texas Revolution the following two years.
In 2017, Taylor played in the CIF for the Centex Calvary where he was a jack of all trades for the team playing QB, RB, KR, and on defense.
Since that time Taylor has gone into coaching.
NOTES:
Ramonce arrived to the event early, which was good for me. It was a drive from Austin to Temple, and it saved me a few hours. He really liked his card, even though the vendor had provided his own version from the UT set as well. I was impressed because Ramonce knew where the photo was from and correctly identified it as the game winning TD catch from the Red River rivalry.
Everything’s really changed. It almost all connects from Austin to Temple without a break. When I was a kid my parents would meet my grandparents halfway between Austin and Waco about once a month in Temple. We’d have lunch at this buffet there next to an inn called the ‘Smorgasbord’. It’s now called something like ‘The Cowboy Stop’ or something.
I’ve been digging through my mom’s room… organizing things- It’s a tough process to handle when a loved one has dementia. I found photos of those good times at The Smorgasbord, with me becoming super excited for gifts and presents from my grandparents in paper bags while wearing a Captain America tank top.
Ahmad Dixon played college ball at Baylor from 2010-’14 at defensive back.
Over his college careers with the Bears, he had 288 combined tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 9 pass deflections, and 4 picks for 72 yard and a TD.
Selected in the 7th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
Signed to the Vikings practice squad, and then to the Bears active roster during the 2014 season.
Had 5 special teams tackles and a fumble recovery for the Bears.
Signed by the Dolphins and quickly cut, Dixon ended the year back on the Vikings and was cut in 2015
Dixon tried his hand in the CFL and appeared in one game for the Edmonton Eskimos in 2017.
Played for the South team of The Spring League in 2018.
Resigned with the Esks that year but was released in final cut downs.
Drafted by the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL 2020 during the 6th round.
Before COVID ended the season, Dixon had 44 tackles in 4 games for LA.
Joined the Massachusetts Pirates of the IFL in 2021, posting 49 tackles, 4 pass breakups, an interception and a sack.
Played for the Philadelphia Stars in 2022, and started 9 contests, recording 41 total tackles, 1 pass deflections, 1 pick, and 2 forced fumbles.
Signed with the Pirates again for 2023 but did not make the squad.
NOTES:
This card is an uncorrected error. Topps accidentally spelled Ahmad’s name, ‘Ahmed’. Cheap certified autographed cards for my favorite sets are a no brainier through eBay.
Kendrick Starling played WR at Navarro JC in 1999 and 2000.
He caught 111 passes for 2305 yards and 26 TDs.
Joined Marshall University for 2001, and later transferred for San Jose State in 2002.
Kendrick Starling played for the Spartans for two years.
In 23 games he had 77 receptions for 899 yards and 5 TDs.
He also led the conference in yards per return on kick returns, averaging 28.1 yards on 20 returns, netting 562 yards.
Undrafted in 2004, he’d sign with the Houston Texans.
He made the squad that year, used primarily on special teams seeing action in 8 contests.
In 2005 Starling hopped around practice squads, leaving the Texans for Seattle, and later in the season for New Orleans.
Rejoined the Texans in 2006 and was allocated to NFL Europa to play for the Rhein Fire.
A long bomb threat, Kendrick caught 13 passes for 320 yards and 3 TDs, and lead the league with 24.6 yards per reception.
After being waived by the Texans after camp in 2006, Starling signed with the Eskimos the following year in 2007.
He’d catch 2 passes for 18 yards for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats that season in 3 contests.
In 2025, Starling was sentenced to 25 years in prison for abuse of a child.
NOTES:
The Texans during this period were always looking for a long bomb solution to groom next to Andre Johnson. Someone who could also be a special teams kick or punt returner as well. Starling fit that bill and I remember really hoping he’d pan out. He was considered a deep sleeper entering the draft. He quickly developed into a guy you could cheer for, with a fun personality, style, but a humble willingness to learn. Unfortunately things did not work out for him.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
