CARD: Sage 2022 ACQUIRED: IP 2025, San Antonio Brahmas v Arlington Renegades
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
WR LuJuan Winningham played college ball at Central Arkansas from 2018-2021.
Over his college career he posted 152 receptions for 2,334 yards and 26 TDs in 34 contests.
Undrafted, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the 2022 NFL Draft.
In 2023, was selected by the Arlington Renegades of the XFL.
Had 11 receptions for 158 yards and 2 TDs (including a 55 yarder) that season.
Added another 4 for 28 yards in 2025.
Signed with the Houston Gamblers for the 2026 UFL season.
Saw action in 4 games catching 3 passes for 36 yards.
NOTES:
LuJuan was one of the last autographs I got at the last game that the San Antonio Brahmas played. He was very nice and signed the extra duplicates I had for some friends.
Kirk Merritt RB/WR was very busy in college spending time at Oregon (2015), Texas A&M (’16), East Mississippi CC (’17), and Arkansas State (2018-’19).
For the Red Wolves in 2018, he compiled 83 receptions for 1,005 yards and 7 TDs.
Then in 2019, he had 70 receptions for 806 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Signed in 2020 with the Dolphins where he spent the season on and off the regular season roster and the practice squad through 2021.
In 2022, signed with the New Orleans Saints and was on the team’s practice squad through 2023.
Signed with the UFL Houston Roughnecks in 2024, and finished with 14 carries for 187 yards and 9 carries for 28 yards and a TD.
Then in 2025, posted 33 carries for 91 yards and a TD, and 13 catches for 124 yards.
NOTES:
While I believe in the slow evolution of sets from year to year like an elegant Corvette, this set seems to have taken a path in the wrong direction. It really doesn’t feel risky enough. What position does Kirk play? His position is either too small or disappears into the canvas. I also find the serif on his name stodgy and unnecessary. I opted out of spending the hundreds of dollars needed to purchase this set and the certified autos. I’ll just nickle and dime my way through and probably won’t buy the ’26 set since the Brahmas are no longer in the UFL.
CARDS: Upper Deck UFL 2025 Certified, TNT XFL23, Upper Deck UFL 2025 Dual Autographs ACQUIRED: Epack, 2025. In Person 2025, San Antonio Brahmas v DC Defenders
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
A talented athlete in college, Jontre Kirklin could do it all at DB, QB and WR while playing at LSU from 2017-’21.
Undrafted he signed with the Arizona Cardinals after the 2022 NFL Draft.
Kirklin was selected by the Houston Roughnecks for play in the 2023 XFL season.
Off to a fast start, Kirklin started 4 games, catching 15 passes for 253 yards and 5 TDs , before suffering a season ending chest injury.
After rehabbing, he’d spend the rest of the 2023 season on and off the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints.
Released by the Saints, Jontre signed with the Brahmas- where most of the Roughnecks staff had gone to, after the UFL and XFL merged.
Got some more experience in the pros with the 49ers during August of ’24.
Resigned with the Brahmas for the 2024 season and caught 56 passes for 614 yards and 3 TDs.
Returned to the team for 2025, but with the coaching staff in turmoil, the offense suffered mightily.
Still managed to catch 35 passes for 284 yards on 7 starts.
1 reception for 10 yards
NOTES:
I was wandering around trying to get a few autographs after the Brahmas lost to Washington when I spied out Kirklin still on the field. I ran around and was able to lure him back with his Roughnecks custom.
The following week the Brahmas lost a tough game in OT to Memphis, which is played on the visiting side of the field where I sit. I tried as hard as I could to rally the crowd, and I want to believe I stood out.
Randomly after the contest Jontre came up to me and gave me his gloves. I was extremely touched.
I had really, really wanted the Brahmas dual autograph of Jontre and Cody. When I first started the set, this was the one I really wanted. Problem was, when Upper Deck first released the set, for some reason, this limited autograph got pulled a lot, by a select few people. This created a problem, as even though they got a stack of these cards, they refused to trade them. I was really frustrated by this and waited it out.
About 6 months I was able to make a deal with another collector, who had a very low trade rating. I did offer them 12 cards- 5 of them being autographs, and one GDM, but it was worth it, as the vast majority of them were duplicates.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
