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’.
CARD: Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Santos Ramirez played defensive back at Arkansas from 2015-18.
He posted 228 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions for 58 yards and a TD, 13 pass deflections, and 5 forced fumbles over his college career for the Razorbacks.
Went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft, but saw time as a free agent on the preseason roster of the New York Jets.
Played safety for the Seattle Dragons in the XFL 2020, posting 11 total tackles.
Returned to the XFL in 2023, starting all 10 games, and had a solid season for the DC Defenders.
Posted 46 total tackles, .5 sacks, and 2 interceptions for 47 yards, and a TD.
His 40 yard interception of Brandon Silvers for a TD was considered one of the top 5 highlights of the DC Defenders season.
NOTES:
After the game I milled around and spotted Santos out on the field with his family. I flagged him down. He was shocked he had a card and his mom asked to see it too. He was really excited to pen it, so I parlayed his autograph by asking him if he could help me get Jordan Ta’Amu too, which he nicely did for me! I’ll probably drop a few more off with his mom if I see her again. (She was pretty hot…) lol
Card: Topps AAF Now 2.17.19 , Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified, Panini Contenders 2016, Topps AAF Now 3.2.19, Topps XFL 2020 Acquired: IP 2019, SA Commanders Team Signing Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Rim, IP 2023, SA Brahmas v Arlington Renegades Failure: TTM 2019, C/o The Miami Dolphins
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Kenneth Farrow II played college ball for The University of Houston from 2012-15.
His best collegiate season came in 2014, rushing for 1042 yards on 186 carries- scoring 14 TDs.
Over Farrow’s college career he had 560 carries for 2980 yards and 34 TDs rushing, to go along with 74 catches for 546 yards and 3 TDs- in 48 contests.
Signed with San Diego following the 2016 NFL Draft.
Fought his way onto the roster and was 3rd on the depth chart at RB for the Chargers.
Dressed for 13 contests, starting 2, rushing for 192 yards on 60 carries.
Spent the end of 2016, and all of 2017 on IR.
Waived by team in 2018, and joined the Patriots for about a month during the regular season.
Kenneth has a lot of great Spring football cards, and I wanted him on all of them. As I love my runningbacks, he was one of my favorite Commanders. When the league folded I ran out to a Chinese version of EBay and got a bunch of custom Commanders jerseys made. I was very excited to add Kenneth’s jersey to my collection (see photo). The problem was that it didn’t have the ‘II’ on the back- even though I requested it. It’s the effort that counts though.
Topps AAF 2019, #152Topps XFL 2020, #8
I had been following Kenneth since his days with the Commanders, and I did this piece of art for him. He liked it so much, he promised me he’d give me his autograph at an event in the future- if he ever made it back around to this area. I bode my time.
Eventually he returned to the XFL 3.0 with the Arlington Renegades. When the team cut him before the season, I thought to myself, “Oh well,” But lo and behold two weeks before the Brahmas meeting with the Renegades, Arlington resigned him. I knew this was my best shot.
I look like a crazy person but Kenneth’s got it goin’ on.
I gave him a gentle nudge on Twitter with the picture, then took some photos of myself in my jersey. He liked it before the game, so I knew I had a good shot. When I got to the stadium, I snuck around to the visitors side of the stadium, eventually settling in where I was in view of him near the front of the visitors entrance stands.
Boom! He caught a pass and came rumbling over. “I see you! Thank-you for being a fan! I’ll get you after warm ups and sign anything you want!” Then he rolled off again. Everyone around me was pretty floored.
True to his word he came back after warm-ups concluded. He signed all the remaining cards I needed of him, and I gave him the art I made of him. We reminisced about the best of times with the Commanders briefly, before Brian Folkerts came over and De’Vante Bausby piped in about how classy my jersey was. It was great! Like a mini reunion. I was so elated. I felt so appreciated and I know the feeling was mutual.
Even though the Brahmas lost the game, I felt like a big winner that day.
Unfortunately during a play where Kenneth was plowing ahead for a big gain, he was tackled and injured. At some point enough is enough and with the injuries he’s sustained over the years, he’s lucky to still have it. After his surgical procedure he announced his very well earned retirement from the sport. Onward and upward!
Kenneth is a founding member of the UFPA (United Football Players Association)- An advisory board of players that specializes in helping players and unions outside the NFL and CFL negotiate union contracts with their leagues.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
