Zack Hodges hopefully will become a real nice rags to riches story. His parents both passed away before his 16th birthday and he battled with bouts of homelessness, but he came through it all to play at Harvard and became a two-time Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, totaling 26 sacks and 41 tackles for loss over his career at the school. A rangy defensive end, Hodges lined up all over the Harvard defensive alignment. Certainly fitting the mark as a tweener, he could play defensive end, outside linebacker, or even inside with a bit of bulk.
Zach was signed as a free agent by the Indianapolis Colts after the 2015 NFL draft, and then later on the Los Angeles Rams. Currently he is a member of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Garry Peters went unselected in the 2015 draft, and you have to wonder- why? Peters was considered one of the nation’s elite cornerbacks after a solid 2014 campaign. Over a two year period he only allowed 233 receiving yards and didn’t allow a single TD pass thrown his direction in 58 targets. Pretty impressive numbers for the Clemson alum. Well apparently the knock on Peters was his physical style at the line of scrimmage wasn’t going to fly at the NFL level. His 40 time at the combine was considered pedestrian at 4.61, but he also stood out by going up daily against the likes of first round talent Sammy Watkins and D’Andre Hopkins in practice at Clemson.
The Panthers love big bodied corners and signed Peters to a free agent contract. He turned heads in minicamp but was cut on the eve of the first day of practice due to a hamstring injury. Peters agent kept him very busy making a tour of the AFC East. He received tryouts with the Bills, Patriots, and Dolphins but didn’t get a bite.
He gave the CFL a shot in 2016 and landed on the roster of the Edmonton Eskimos. Garry had 24 tackles and 5 special teams stops in 11 games in his rookie campaign. As of 2017 he continues to play for the Eskimos.
Gary Nova had a sold career for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He started 41 of 46 career games and set career-highs as a senior with a 57.1 percent completions, 2,851 yards and 22 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. After not being drafted, Nova tried out with the New York Giants at their May mini-camp, but was not signed. He remained on their radar all season but was not brought back in since there wasn’t any injuries in the lineup.
Gary earned another tryout, this time with the Green Bay Packers. He then worked out at the Rutgers’ Pro Day in 2016, while he finished up his degree in Labor & Employment at the university. Nova continues to train for another shot at the pro level, and has most recently garnered some interest from the CFL.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
Card: Sage Hit 2015
