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.
CARD: Upper Deck USFL 2023, Upper Deck UFL 2024 Dual Signatures ACQUIRED: IP, 2024 Birmingham Stallions v the San Antonio Brahmas. 2025, Epack
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
J’mar Smith played QB at Louisiana Tech from 2016-’19.
He completed 759 of 1280 passes for 9,523 yards and 51 TDs over his college career.
In 2019 he’d be named Conference USA’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Undrafted, he spent camp with the Patriots in 2020, and had a tryout with the Packers.
Signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in ’21 but was released.
Joined the USFL in 2022 and led the team to a win the USFL Championship Game in 2022.
On the season he completed 131 passes for 1573 yards and 10 TDs, while rushing for 191 on 37 carries scoring 2 TDs.
Placed on IR for the 2023 season.
Returned to Birmingham for the 2024 campaign, but saw little action.
Signed a letter alongside other quarterbacks and refused to report to the opening of camp until concessions were made by the league.
Cut by Birmingham but returned a few scant weeks later.
ACCOLADES:
USFL Player of the Week 2023 (Week 1)
Birmingham Stallions Best Hair Award
NOTES:
J’Mar was wandering off the field after their loss to the Brahmas during the 2024 season. He and Marlon Williams ambled up and signed their cards for me. It was a good double hit.
I had been having a lot of success with the Upper Deck UFL set. I pulled this dual autograph from a group of 8 packs I opened. I was pretty satisfied with this hit- although I am unsure if J’mar and Amari have ever been on the field at the same time.
Jalen Saunders played two years at Fresno State from 2010-’11.
He then transferred to Oklahoma for ’12 and finished out his college career there in ’13.
His sophomore campaign for Fresno was his best, as he caught 50 catches for 1065 yards and 12 TDs.
Saunders then had two back to back solid seasons for the Sooners, with 829 yards and 3 TDs and 729 yards and 8 TDs respectably.
Selected in the 4th round of the 2014 Draft by the New York Jets.
He’d see action with the Jets before being cut, then bounce on and off the rosters of the Cardinals and Seahawks before finally ending up on the Saints to conclude the season.
The following year in 2015, the Saints traded Saunders to New England for a conditional draft choice, but he didn’t make the 52.
Joined the Bears practice squad, but was suspended 10 games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Played in the Spring League in 2017.
Signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats that year and had a breakout season, posting 1,170 yards on 76 receptions.
He was off to a great start in 2018, until an injury ended his season and then subsequently released in 2019.
The XFL20 Houston Roughnecks drafted him- but injured in camp, he wouldn’t see the field.
Returned to CFL and signed with the Redblacks, but never saw the field, retiring in ’21.
He came out of retirement in 2022 to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but was cut after he was accused of sexual assault.
NOTES:
I had a stack of cards of Saunders and thought I’d catch him at a game or at the team meet and greet before the season. Unfortunately that didn’t happen.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
