Tag Archives: panini donruss 2021

NFL, ufl

Mond, Kellen

CARDS: Panini Elite 2021, Panini Prism 2021, Panini Illusions 2021, Panini Mosaic 2021, Panini Contenders 2021 RotY, Panini Donruss 2021, Panini Prestige 2021, Score 2021, Panini Luminance 2021, Panini Absolute 2021, Panini Illusions 2021 (Vikings), Upper Deck UFL 2025
ACQUIRED: IP 2025, Brahmas Rally. eBay, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kellen Mond played QB for Texas A&M from 2017-’20.
  • Over his college career he completed 801/1358 passes for 71 TDs to 27 interceptions.
  • He also ran for 1608 yards and 22 TDs on 438 carries.
  • Selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Never really given a chance, as he was drafted by the FO, while HC Mike Zimmer wanted someone else.
  • He completed 2 of 3 passes for 5 yards in a backup role, despite never speaking to his head coach.
  • Signed with the Cleveland Browns after being cut in 2022 but didn’t make the team’s final roster.
  • Joined the Colts practice squad in 2023.
  • Signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 but didn’t make the squad.
  • Jumped to the UFL for the 2025 season where he was named the Brahmas starter.
  • Again Mond dropped right into a dysfunctional FO and coaching situation in San Antonio.
  • With HC Wade Philips health ailing, and a pitched battle for control inside the organization, their OC AJ Smith would quit abruptly after week 2.
  • Mond completed 98 of 171 passes for 850 yards and 2 TDs to 2 interceptions in 7 starts.
  • After the Brahmas were unceremoniously euthanized new ownership of the UFL, Mond did not return to the league for 2026.

ACCOLADES:

  • MVP 2021 Senior Bowl

NOTES:

Not going to lie. I took advantage of the event. There were no lines or gatekeepers. The players were highly accessible and friendly- and I was STACKED with cards. I think Kellen got through 15 of them before GM Marc Lillibridge came up and shooed me away. I took it like a champ and Kellen was kind enough to just sign, sign, sign. Kellen was pretty cool. We talked about Htown and the Woodlands for a bit. (I ended up sending 3 or 4 to Joe per our rolling agreement for him to send me additional cards and I skim a few for myself to add to my own).

I really think Kellen had some terrible, terrible luck falling into two dysfunctional front office/ head coaching situations. The UFL doesn’t know what it wants to be honestly. Is it a farm league to the NFL or a professional league of its own? Kellen has some great tools, but he just needs time and the UFL could’ve been a great place for him to grow.

NFL

Collins, Nico

Panini Donruss 2021, DA -NCC

CARD: Panini Donruss 2021
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2024

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Nico Collins played WR at Michigan from 2017-20.
  • He opted out of his senior season due to COVID, so he finished with a modest 78 receptions for 1388 yards and 13 TDs over his college career.
  • With strong connections to the Texans through their coaching staff, Nico was a 3rd round pick of the franchise in 2021.
  • The team was going through… a lot at the time, not only at the quarterback position, but also in the coaching staff.
  • He finished both his rookie and sophomore campaign with similarly middling results.
  • In ’21 he started 8 games and had 33 receptions for 446 yards and a TD.
  • In ’22 he started 7 games and had 37 receptions for 481 yards and 2 TDs.
  • It’d be in 2023 that Nico had a breakout year, as he and rookie QB CJ Stroud paired together to be a dangerous combination.
  • Collins finished the ’23 campaign with career highs in all categories, as well as more than doubled his production across the board.
  • He finished 2023 with 80 receptions for 1297 yards, a 75 long, and 8 TDs.

NOTES:

The prices have been fluttering down on certified autographs recently, and with the emergence of Nico I wanted to get a few of his long at last into the collection since we just don’t get much love up here in Central Texas. I had originally chosen a Luminance card, but the seller couldn’t find it, so he offered to make it right by sending me the Donruss instead, which I begrudgingly accepted.