Tag Archives: green bay packers

AAF, NFL, XFL

Pressley, Jhurell

Card: Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: IP 2019, San Antonio Commanders v Arizona Hotshots. EBay 2019.

Jhurell was very high on my list for the game to try and get. His card is quite exciting looking and he was one of the league leaders in rushing. It helped that I had the seats in the visitors endzone, but he proved to be no problem- as soon as he saw his card of course. Jhurell removed his custom mouthpiece, which had gold vampire teeth in it and came over excitedly. It clued me in that for most of the Hotshots this was the first time they’d seen their cards.

Jhurell Pressley was not drafted coming out of New Mexico in 2016. Over his 4 years with the Lobos, he compiled 2,725 career yards on 394 carries (6.9 ypc) while scoring 35 TDs, and catching 18 passes (202 yards). His best year at NM came in 2014 when he compiled a whopping 1083 yards on 114 carries. – That’s right- 9.4 yards per carry!

He’d sign with the Minnesota Vikings and then see time on and off the rosters and practice squads of the Packers, Falcons, Jaguars, and Giants.

Jhurell joined the Arizona Hotshots in 2019 and led the league in rushing finishing with 430 yards on 96 carries, 1 TD and a 36 yard long scamper. He also caught 11 passes for 86 yards and 2 TDs including a 30 yard scamper.

After the league folded Jhurell was selected in the 3rd round of the XFL 2020 Draft by the Washington Defenders.

AAF, CFL, NFL

Williams, Marquise

Card: Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: 2019, EBay

Marquise Williams played for the North Carolina Tarheels where he set numerous passing school records for the school as a dual threat QB from 2012-2015. He’d pass for 7,965 yards and 61 TD (25 INT) and rush for 2,458 yards and 35 TDs over his time at the school. After the 2016 NFL Draft, he’d spend time in camp with the Green Bay Packers.

The following year, he’d beat out Vince Young to make the roster of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Marquise spent the next year there and was later cut in 2018.

Williams was allocated to the Atlanta Legends for the 2019 AAF season. Ultimately however, he’d be selected in the second round of the Pick or Protect Draft by the San Antonio Commanders. I was crazy about Marquise. Since Mike Riley was the coach, Williams reminded me a lot of former Riders QB Mike Johnson. Throughout the season, Marquise was used in a variety of ways. Initially he saw time on the field during 2 point conversions and short yardage plays, but this was quickly abandoned by the Commanders- probably in favor of keeping starter Logan Woodside in rhythm.

Later in the season Marquise was able to get in some heavy playtime against the Salt Lake City Stallions during Week 7 and the Arizona Hotshots in Week 8. Notably against the Stallions, he’d spark the Commanders to a win in front of the largest crowd in AAF history. Williams had solid passing statistics during his brief time in the league. Marquise went 25/34 (73.5%) for 203 yards, and a 36 yard TD to Trey Williams. He’d also rush 21 times for 120 yards.

Marquise was spotted at the XFL Summer Showcase after the AAF folded, and was later selected by the New York Guardians of the XFL in the 10th round of the league’s draft.

AAF, NFL

Johnson, Charles

Card: Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o The Philadelphia Eagles
Sent: 4/10 Received: 7/26 (107 days)

Charles Johnson was the big bodied playmaker in Steve Spurrier’s Sun N Gun offense at Wide Receiver. Over 8 games, he caught 45 passes (70 targets) primarily from Garrett Gilbert, for 687 yards, 5 TDs and a 2 point conversion. His 687 yards and 70 targets were a league mark. Charles best game came against the San Antonio Commanders in Week 2, as he set AAF records with 10 catches for 192 yards and a TD.

“He’s done a fantastic job since he’s been here. He got himself acclimated to the system, and he and I have great rapport.”

– Apollos QB Garrett Gilbert

Charles Johnson’s football story starts at Antelope Valley Community College back in 2008. He caught 24 passes for 231 yards and 3 TDs, and then at Eastern Kentucky catching 3 passes for 63 yards. He transferred to Grand Valley and reshirted for a year. Returning to the gridiron in 2011 he blew the doors off of the college recording 56 receptions for 1030 yards and 15 TDs. Johnson followed that season up with an equally impressive Senior campaign with 72 receptions for 1,199 yards and 16 TDs.

Although he was not invited to the NFL combine in 2013, and hailing from a small school, Charles turned heads with his 4.39 40 on his school’s Pro Day. He parlayed his efforts to sneak onto draft boards as a 7th round pick of the Green Bay Packers. Earning a spot on the team’s practice squad, Charles was signed away by the WR needy Browns, where he spent 2013 and 2014.

He then spent the next 3 seasons with the Vikings from 2014-2016. It was with the Vikes Johnson saw the most success, cobbling together 31 catches for 475 yards and 2 TDs during 2014. Hampered by injuries and inconsistency, Johnson struggled through 2015 and 2016.

Charles signed with the Panthers in 2017, but did not make the squad. The following year in 2018 he joined the Jets, but was cut mid-year and elected to join the AAF.

After the disappointing end to the league, Charles signed within the first few days of the AAF free agent frenzy. When I saw his name popped up on the transaction boards for the Eagles, I didn’t hesitate for a second and sent out to him the following week.

As one of the older players in the AAF, Charles was of interest to many scouts in the NFL and there was a lot of chatter always surrounding what a great story he was for the league, and how just getting back to basics had really helped him fall back in love with the game. I got his autograph on his lone AAF card, and although they did come out with a Topps NOW card of him- I thought that Topps really missed out on the certified autograph boat with him.