CARD: Upper Deck USFL 2023 ACQUIRED: IP 2024, San Antonio Brahmas v Birmingham Stallions
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
CJ Marable played college ball at Arkansas State in 2016, but after seeing little time on the field, transferred to Coastal Carolina.
In 3 years playing for the Chanticleers, he ran for 2691 yards on 491 carries scoring 29 TDs.
He also was a solid receiving option catching 84 passes for 703 yards and 12 TDs.
Signed as an UDFA by the Bears, he’d be waived at the end of camp.
Selected in the 28th round of the 2022 USFL Draft by the Birmingham Stallions.
Solid debut rushing 102 times for 401 yards and 5 TDs, while catching 20 passes for 161 yards for Birmingham.
After being waived by the Patriots, he’d return to the Stallions for 2023, catching 28 passes for 235 yards and 2 TDs, while rushing for 524 yards on 118 carries (2 TDs).
In his 3rd season with the Stallions, CJ rushed 80 times for 293 yards (4 TD) and caught 10 passes for 45 yards.
Birmingham Stallions (8-0) v San Antonio Brahmas (6-2), 5/25/24 CJ MARABLE R 2 YDS 17 AVG 8.5 TD 0 LG 11 REC 1 YDS 2 AVG 2.0 TD 0 LG 2
ACCOLADES:
USFL Player of the Week 2022 (Week 5)
NOTES:
I didn’t hold out much hope getting any Stallions autographs after the Brahmas game. They had just suffered their first loss in over a year and they looked bushwhacked and tired. Still you have to hand it to them that they are happy to have fans. I was able to waive him over, and he kindly signed 3 cards including this 1/499. The other two I sent to my friends Joe and Mark (Mark’s Signing Bonus). CJ has a great big autograph, and I love it.
I thought I’d push it a bit further and ask him for his glove, to which he responded, “For a true fan, I got you bruh.” Big win. Getting back to basics: This is how a league really courts fans.
I hadn’t gotten Pat since the 90s and since he had a very inspirational looking Classic 1991 card, I thought I’d reload and send a few out. A solid signer TTM he, took care of all four cards in under 30 days.
Reggie Rucker played college ball at Boston University as a WR and PR.
Undrafted in 1969, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
He’d be buried on the depth chart, spending time on and off the taxi squad while recovering from injury.
Cut in 1971, he spent about a month on the Giants.
Broke into the starting lineup with the Patriots in 1972, after signing with the team in late ’71.
Rucker became an impact player for Cleveland after being traded to the Browns in 1975.
Led the league among wide receivers that year with a career high 60 catches.
Had best season in ’78 with 43 receptions for 893 yards and 8 TDs.
Retired in 1982 due to lingering knee injuries.
ACCOLADES:
Boston University HOF 1978
NOTES:
An argument could be made that Reggie Rucker could’ve been the proto Bo Jackson of the 70s. A letterman in FOUR sports, Reggie didn’t just letter- he was damn good at both football and baseball. He had that X-factor that allowed him to make big plays on the big stage when the team needed it most. His stats are also heavily impacted by the ‘dead ball era’ of football during the ’70s.
Rucker has had a controversial career since retirement. He went into broadcasting and was considered an up and coming personality in the ranks, but his image was tarnished after he was caught fabricating a story. Eventually his role was diminished so much that eventually he left the profession all together.
(Now, it seems like a big deal maybe, but keep in mind, in this day and age, there are plenty of color commentators who have been busted fabricating talking to the coach during halftime that have just shrugged it off and continue on.)
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
447
7065
15.8
44
69
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
