CARD: Upper Deck Game Day Moments 2024 ACQUIRED: IP, 2025
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Justin Smith played WR at Norfolk State from 2017-2021.
He tallied 102 receptions for 1741 yards and 15 TDs.
Undrafted he’d end up joining the XFL in 2023 playing for the Houston Roughnecks.
Starting 5 contests he pulled in 16 receptions for 238 yards and a 47 yard TD.
When the Roughnecks joined the USFL conference, the players were all released back into the draft pool.
The Brahmas with a good portion of former Roughneck coaches, cannibalized the former XFL Roughnecks roster and grafted them onto the Brahmas.
Justin was a nine game starter for SA in 2024, posting 25 receptions for 264 yards and 1 TD.
As the Brahmas collapsed in 2025, Justin only saw action in 6 games starting 3.
He’d catch 9 passes for 159 yards including a 56 yard long.
About a week and a half after I got his autograph, the team inexplicably cut him.
NOTES:
I had been wanting this card since I discovered it on the Upper Deck website. Unfortunately it’s a Game Day Moments card so it was out of print. I made some trades to get other ones but I couldn’t pry this one off of even a guy who had 15 extras- which was quite frustrating. My friend Jake (who I met through the website doing trades) was my guest at the game and had this extra one. Well not really an extra. He had this base card and a gold version of it. He sympathized with my case and we worked out a deal for it, so I could have it on the spot.
I had been pointing out Smith at every home game. He was missing in action the first 4-5 weeks and then exploded when Hogan was in at QB. I yelled that out to him and we pointed back and forth. When I told him I had his card, Justin said that he’d be more than happy to sign it after the game.
He then proceeded to get his bell rung on his only catch of the day he made. Still he was of his word and when he came over I asked how he was doing and he said that he was doing fine now.
Kony joined the Cowboys during the 2018 preseason, but was cut.
He’d then sign with the Raiders, but again would be cut before the end of the year.
The next year Kony was selected by and signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL20.
With the season cancelled due to COVID after 5 games, Kony finished with 9 tackles, 2 TFL, and half a sack.
He spent a season then in the CFL with the Argos from 2021 to the end of camp in 2022.
With that it was off for a month with the Vegas Knight Hawks of the IFL.
And then finally another 3 months with the Edmonton Elks before the end of the 2022 season.
NOTES:
Well I had reloaded on Kony after meeting him in person at the Houston Roughnecks team meet and greet for season ticket holders and I was hopeful the league would pick back up in 2021 but unfortunately COVID finished off the XFL20. So I held onto this post and eventually forgot about it.
A few things about Kony. I think if he had found a spot on a team primarily as a situational starter or designated pass rusher, he might’ve stuck around longer at his different stops. It takes a genius of a DC to unlock potential and Kony had plenty of that- as evidenced in his Super Bowl 50 performance when he logged 3 sacks, forced a fumble and made an interception.
I really also relate to the big guy as he has struggled with depression after the loss of his father and sister, and while he was with the Roughnecks, he opened up about it and his battle with it.
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.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
