Tag Archives: sage 2015

AAF, NFL, XFL

Smith, Derron

Card: Topps AAF Now 2019, Panini Prism 2015, Crown Royale 2015, Sage 2015, Score 2015, Topps XFL 2019,
Acquired: IP 2019, SA Commanders Team Signing Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Rim.
Ebay, 2020
TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 7/13 Received: 7/24 (11 days)
Failure: TTM 2019, C/o The Minnesota Vikings

An all-star at Fresno State, Derron was named first team All WAC three times while playing for the Bulldogs. He pulled down 7 interceptions and 4 sacks in 2013, and 7 pass breakups and 80 tackles in 2014. Derron’s 15 career interceptions tied him for 5th on the school charts. A perfect storm emerged however with a hernia injury, (that caused Derron to miss the Senior Bowl and the combine,) and a bad pro day, which caused his draft day stock to drop. Scouts however, loved his ability to keep his eyes focused on the ball and the action in front of him, as well as his man cover skills.

Derron was selected in the 6th round in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He’d spend the next two seasons there, eventually landing on their practice squad in 2017, where he was signed off the Bengals by the Cleveland Browns. Over that period he got some game time experience posting 16 total tackles, a fumble recovery, and a pass deflection. Cut by the Browns in 2018, Derron kept in football shape, prepping for his next shot.

In late 2018, Derron got his next shot- An invitation to play for the new Alliance of American Football. He’d be traded by the Fleet to the San Antonio Commanders in December for Damontre Moore. The Commanders were already steeped in defensive secondary talent, and looking to add depth at safety alongside guys like Orion Stewart and Kurtis Drummond. Derron would also be coached in the secondary by longtime NFL veteran and ballhawk Bill Bradley.

“He’s quiet in the DB room, but he’s the one guy that the guys look to. He’s kind of the calming factor in a very raucous bunch of defensive backs on our team.”

– Commanders GM Daryl Johnston

Derron made a lot of noise near the end of camp, and actually didn’t even start until Week 3 of the 2019 AAF season against the Iron. From there on however, he was lights out.

Derron in Week 4 earned AAF Defensive Player of the Week Honors, when he single-handedly demolished the Arizona Hotshots. He’d pick off a John Wolford pass and race 66 yards the other direction for a TD to open up the scoring. Then later in the game, he’d pick off Wolford again as the Hotshots tried to claw their way back into the contest. The following week against the Legends, he stepped in front of an errant Aaron Murray pass late in the game, and took that pass 87 yards to paydirt.

On the season Derron finished with 22 solo stops, 11 combined tackles, 8 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions for 153 yards and 2 TDs. Although the league ceased operations after 8 contests, Smith was posthumously named the AAF Defensive Player of the Year by Pro Football Focus for his outstanding play.

“On 309 snaps in coverage, Smith led the league at any position on defense with his 93.2 coverage grade as he intercepted three passes and broke up another five. He stuck his head in on 37 total tackles and missed just three while his eight defensive stops were a top-10 figure among safeties. His prowess in the secondary for the Commanders make him a legitimate candidate to potentially land a spot in the NFL this next season.”

-Pro Football Focus (on naming Smith the AAF Defender of the Year)

Derron was snatched up by the XFL later that year, after spending training camp with the Minnesota Vikings. He’d be the first defender taken off the board by his former GM Daryl Johnston, who was now working with the Dallas Renegades.

In 5 games with Dallas, Derron had 15 tackles, and an interception before the XFL 2020 folded due to COVID concerns.

I had a giant stack of cards of Derron I wanted to get signed and with his amazing game against the Hotshots and Legends, he zoomed near the top of my favorite Commanders defensive players. I got most of these autographs in person at an event at The Rim, before Week 7. Annoyingly the Topps AAF Now card arrived the next week in the mail so I had the stress of firing out this $10.00 card out into the wind and hoping it came back.

So you’re probably wondering, “How’d you track down Derron?” Easy. I cross referenced his bio to Twitter and found where he was at attached to his profile. From there I used Advanced Background Checks- and he popped right up.

Derron replied in about 10 days, signing both his XFL and AAF Now cards and wrote me a nice note, thanking me for being a fan. I was pumped.

NFL

Hart, Dee

Card: Sage 2015
Acquired: 2016, Gunderson Trade

Dee Hart was a sparkling recruit coming out of high school. The all-purpose back signed with Alabama and played both football and ran track in 2012 but couldn’t seem to break into the starting lineup. He graduated early, and with 2 years remaining of eligibility, decided to transfer to Colorado State. In one season playing for the Rams, the 5’9″, 190 back ran for 1275 yards on 194 carries. -That’s a whopping 6.6 yards per carry. Dee also had 16 TDs rushing and 18 receptions for 189 yards and 2 TDs.

He declared for the 2015 NFL Draft, but went unselected.  Dee later got a tryout with the Dolphins, but was cut before the season started. I think Dee still has a shot and I think he could make an impression in one of the new Spring football leagues popping up here in 2019.

NFL

Coleman, Justin

Card: Sage 2015   (171/250)
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

Justin Coleman played for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2011-2014. He saw action in all four years for the school posting 157 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions for 106 yards and a TD, with 17 pass deflections. Despite his numbers, Coleman’s overall pedestrian 40 time (4.53) combined with his size (5’11”, 185) caused him to drop out of the draft. He’d sign as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings after the 2015 Draft but be released in August. Claimed by the Patriots, he’d be cut the following day. The Seattle Seahawks signed Justin to their practice squad the day after that- and then the Patriots came back three days later and signed Justin to their active roster. Whew! Talking about a whirlwind tour.

Justin ended up being a key player in the Patriots’ secondary, playing in 10 games and starting 2. He’d finish his rookie year with 23 total tackles, 5 pass deflections, and 1 fumble recovery. Although he played for the team in 2016, he only started 1 game and had 11 total tackles and 3 pass deflections.

The Patriots traded Coleman technically back to the Seahawks in 2017 for a seventh round pick. Coleman started 5 games for the Legion of Boom recording 2 interceptions for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns, to go along with 9 pass deflections, 1.5 sacks, and 35 tackles. Moving forward through 2018 with the departure of Richard Sherman, it looked as though the Seahawks were hoping that Coleman would be a major player for the team. He became their primary nickelback and produced a career high 51 total tackles, .5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 10 pass deflections, and returned a fumble for a TD against the 49ers.

Literally at the time of this post Justin was inking a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions. As offenses continue to evolutionize, defenses are forced to catch up and the specialized slot corner or nickelback is now in extreme demand. That being said, Justin is now the highest paid slot defender in the league.