Opted to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted by the COVID pandemic.
Played 3 games for Utah in 2021.
Transferred to Liberty for 2022 and was injured in the first game of the season.
Went undrafted in 2023.
Saw time briefly on the off-season roster of the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL.
NOTES:
Brewer is part of a hotbed of quarterback talent from Austin, Texas, and he himself comes from strong football bloodlines. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets lost in the shuffle of QB talent in camps this year, and would make a fantastic target for XFL developmental.
Marcus Crandall played quarterback for East Carolina University and finished as the school’s all-time leading passer, setting over 30 records for the Pirates.
In 1997, he joined the CFL playing for the Edmonton Eskimos.
He’d see extensive playing time in 1999, completing 59 of 112 passes for 767 yards and 5 TDs.
Later in 2000, Crandall played a year with the Scottish Claymores throwing for 754 yards and 4 TDs.
A member of XFL 2001, he’d play for the Memphis Maniax.
It’d be in 2002, Marcus returned to the CFL, signing with the Calgary Stampeders.
He’d have his best season as a pro, throwing for 4072 yards, and 26 TDs that year.
Crandell also ground up yardage rushing for 503 yards and 2 TDs on 80 carries.
Marcus played with the franchise through 2004, before heading out to Saskatchewan.
After seeing extensive playing time in 2005, he’d serve as a backup through 2008, retiring after the season.
He went into coaching working with the CFL for Saskatchewan, Edmonton, and Ottawa.
Then later he worked in the college football ranks, most recently at Livingstone College.
Alright, He signed it all in red, but that’s okay- I’ll take it! I was pretty pumped to get Marcus all in one shot on his four cards. Marcus is currently working in healthcare and specializes in helping people get low cost insurance.
CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 Certified, Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Orlando Guardians
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Defensive Lineman Stansly Maponga played college ball at TCU from 2010-12.
In 2011 he posted 55 total tackles, 13.5 TFL, 9 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles.
He was a 5th round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2015.
After not making the final cuts, he was resigned to the practice squad by the Falcons.
The Giants signed him later in 2017 to their regular season roster, and then retained him on their practice squad after the year.
Maponga then spent the next year or two of and on the practice squad and in the futures contract game with the Cowboys (2017), and Broncos (2017-18).
In late 2019, he’d be the first defender selected by the Seattle Dragons of the XFL for 2020.
On the 5 game season, he’d post 15 tackles.
After a brief flirtation with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL (2021), he’d be selected by the Orlando Guardians of the XFL 2023.
On the season Stansly posted 22 total tackles, and 2.5 sacks starting 9 games for the Guardians.
NOTES:
Stansly was another player within earshot as he left the field to go back to the locker room after warm-ups. He got past me, but when I called out his name, he was probably impressed that I knew how to pronounce it properly in the first place- turned around and came back to me. He graciously signed this card for me. I was really impressed by the broadness of his shoulders. He had gigantic shoulder pads for his size. We also joked about the fact he played for the Dragons, sans ‘Sea’.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
