CARD: Upper Deck Houston Texans Inaugural Season 2002 ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Work SENT: 6/19/21 RECEIVED: 8/28/21 (70 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Ryan Young played LOT for Kansas State from 1996-’98.
Selected in the 7th round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
At 6’5″, 320, Ryan was promoted to the starting position at RT after the 7th game of his rookie season.
He went on to start 48 consecutive contests.
In 2002, he was selected by the Houston Texans, second overall in their Expansion Draft.
Went on to have an injury plagued season in H-town, first with a torn groin, and then later after he returned to the line up- a lingering knee injury.
A free agent after the season, Ryan joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2003.
Unfortunately he suffered another knee injury, which limited him to 8 starts.
At last glance, he has been the Senior Director of the SOUL Mission for the University of Oklahoma football team.
NOTES:
I swear that I posted this one years ago, but I can not find any trace of the post. I can tell you that I originally found Ryan through School of the Legends- way, way back in 2011. I asked him for his autograph, and he said if I could find him, he’d autograph a card for me. SoTL shut down shortly thereafter- so I was left to find him.
Eventually I tracked him down through his ministry that he’s a part of in 2021. It took a little bit of time, but I’m sure I gave him a hearty laugh that gave him an excuse to sign this card and send it back.
Chris and I are big Texans fans and from time to time we’ve helped each other out with players. Since he lives there in the area and had worked around the organization, he’s had unprecedented access to the team. He sent me this autograph as thanks for my help over the years.
The Houston Texans inaugural set has become a big set need for me over the years, and as I can nickle and dime into a few of these players, I am so happy to add them to the set of autographs TTM. I took a shot in the dark and was happy to get this card back signed from him.
Jermaine Lewis played WR at Maryland from 1992-’95.
Over his college time with the Terrapins, he amassed 193 receptions for 2932 yards and 21 TDs.
Saw a little bit of time in college as a return man with 22 kr for 529 yards, and 24 pr for 288 yards and 2 TDs.
Drafted in the 5th round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Clocking in at 5’7″, 183 Lewis became well known as an electrifying punt return man.
In 1997, he had 28 punt returns for 437 yards and 2 TDs.
His 15.6 yards per return led the NFL.
He also had a total of 2025 All-Purpose Yards.
In 1998 he had 32 returns for 405 yards and 2 TDs.
He led the NFL in returns in ’99, posting 57 for 452.
During 2000 he had 36 returns for 578 yards and 2 TDs.
His 16.1 yards per punt return led the NFL.
Then he clocked a league leading 42 returns for a league leading 519 yards, and a total of 1,623 All-Purpose Yards in 2001.
Left exposed in the 2002 Houston Texans Expansion Draft he was selected with their 6th pick.
The Texans also used him primarily as a return man.
After a season in H-Town, Jermaine finished his career spending his final two seasons in Jacksonville.
He finished his career with 10,170 All-Purpose Yards and 6 punt return TDs.
ACCOLADES:
All-Pro 1998
Pro Bowl 1998, ’01
NOTES:
I was excited when the Texans selected Jermaine Lewis. The team and myself thought he could be an early electric and dynamic playmaker that Houston could use, but it didn’t work out that way.
I knew it. That promoter from 2021 was flat out lying to me.
All I had to do was wait around for an additional year and wow, there’s Jermaine Lewis doing another signing for the same price. Sent the card in. No questions asked. And boom- done.
Again if he’s still around: Don’t do business with IPO Sports Marketing.
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
143
2129
14.9
17
73
KR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
212
4611
21.8
0
76
PR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
295
3282
11.1
6
89t
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