Tag Archives: san antonio commanders

AAF, NFL

Lanning, Joel

Card: Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 5/13 Received: 6/3 (21 days)

Joel Lanning was originally a quarterback at Iowa State from 2015-2017. He was a dual threat for the Cyclones both on the ground and through the air. In 2017, Lanning switched to middle linebacker and worked his way up to the starting lineup! He ended up leading the team in total tackles with 114, picked off a pass, and had a fumble recovery. He also was called upon to run the Wildcat for the Cyclones. With the bulk of his stats on offense coming in 2015 and 2016, Joel finished his college career 209/366 (57.1%) 2584 yards, 20 TDs to 7 interceptions. He also rushed 255 times for 983 yards and 17 TDs.

Joel was a free agent signee of the Dallas Cowboys in 2018 but did not make the final squad. An intriguing prospect nonetheless, Lanning later signed with the AAF that year and was a starter on the San Antonio Commanders defense until the league folded. -He recorded 28 tackles.

I had gotten Joel’s autograph previously at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Signing, but this Topps card missed out on that signing by just a few days. After getting the entire set, I doubled down attempting to flag down any Commanders player through Twitter to stop by the visitors end zone, but the league folded before I could get them to show up. It was fairly easy to track Joel down TTM and he signed this card in no time flat.

AAF, NFL

Knight, Trevor

Cards: Sage 2017, Sage 2017 Red, Sage 2017 Peak Performance, Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: IP 2018, San Antonio Commanders AAF Season Ticket Holders Party. IP 2019, San Antonio Commanders v Arizona Hotshots

I pretty much pegged that Trevor Knight would show up at the season holders ticket party for the San Antonio Commanders unveiling party, being that he is an SA native.  Once the team had announced that he was a member of the franchise I rushed to find any cards of his. I was surprised to find that Sage had made both a base set card of his and also a Peak Performance card- which I luckily got in the last box I broke into a few weeks before the event.

He wandered up with his family to the gates and blended in. It was a pretty low key introductory event for fans and players. It was easy to go up and talk to Trevor. He did not have his card, so I gave him the two extra I had, to which he told me that, “I was the man.” (Lol. Anyway- compliment taken.) We talked for a few minutes and he caught me up on his NFL travels. After a short stint in Arizona, he landed on the Falcons roster- but broke a few bones in his back ending his time there. 

Trevor split college ball time at both Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Losing out to Baker Mayfield for the QB job in 2015- Knight bolted down to AtM to play for the Aggies in 2016. There he had his finest college season completing 193 of 362 passes for 2432 yards, 19 touchdowns to 7 interceptions. A dual threat on the ground, he rushed 102 times for 614 yards and 10 TDs. 

Trevor is from San Antonio, so it makes sense that he plays in his hometown for the Comamnders, but the team saw otherwise. Apparently the Commanders were stocked at quarterback, with Dustin Vaughan, Trevor, and Luis Perez all coveted by other teams around the league. The AAF decided to balance out the QB position on the rosters of each team by holding a QB Draft in which you pick or protect a player each round. The consensus was that SA was going to hang onto Knight, but in a surprise- the Commanders opted to keep former Dallas Cowboy Dustin Vaughan instead. Trevor didn’t have to wait long to hear his named called as later that round the Arizona Hotshots selected him with their 6th pick.

Instead of starting Trevor at QB, the Hotshots went with John Wolford. Knight settled into the backup role and has seen some spot duty. His most extensive action came during week 3 against the Stallions when he threw for 95 yards on 8 of 18 throws. He scored his first TD of the season against the Fleet in week 7 when he rushed 4 times for 10 yards.

Knight remembered me from the meet and greet and came over to sign his AAF card with Wolford during that final game in San Antonio. I still think he’s got the juice and might find a home in the XFL in 2020.

AAF, NFL

Stewart, Orion

Cards: Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, EBay 2019
Sent: 4/11 Received: 5/3 (22 days)

When the different AAF groups were talking about what players they were impressed by, I was surprised that they brought up the lumber laying Orion Stewart. He was apparently really impressing in camp for the Commanders. He quickly proved to me during that first game what a force he was for SA in the secondary, laying down the law against the Fleet. In that first game he hauled in a pick, deflected two passes, and made 6 tackles. At the end of the game, he and a gaggle of players came over to the visitor’s endzone and mugged my sister and me for hugs… well primarily my sister- but still it was a great memory to make- and Stewart became one of my favorite players.

Orion was a 3 time All-Big 12 safety at Baylor, playing in 49 games while starting 36 of them. He recorded 12 interceptions over his time playing for the Bears, and ended up third on the school charts with 227 career interception return yards.

Stewart was not selected in the 2016 NFL Draft- and saw brief stops with the Broncos, Redskins, Giants, and Bills. In 2018 he signed with the Commanders and he and Derron Smith made the most fearsome safety duo in the league. He also came up with a nickname for the secondary (- which was one of the league leaders in creating turnovers), calling their group “Area 51”. In fact at the last game, I brandished a homemade sign with it on there as well.

After the league collapsed, Orion signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. He signed his base card in 22 days- which was a day after his certified arrived in the mail. I got an incredible deal on the certified autograph. I got 4 for about half the price of a hobby box, and a hobby box typically comes with 3 autographs, so you do the math.

AAF G/GSTACSACFUM
7/72500
PDINTYDSAVGTDLG
329045.0068