CARDS: Topps XFL 2020, TNT XFL 2023 ACQUIRED: IP 2025, San Antonio Brahmas v Houston Roughnecks
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Jalan McClendon has taken an interesting path to playing professional football.
Played sparingly at QB for NC State from 2014-’17 and then at Baylor in 2018.
Undrafted, Jalan spent time in the camps of the Ravens and Redskins, and then did workouts with the Giants and Packers- all in 2019.
He’d be selected by the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL 20.
Again, he’d spend time riding the bench, seeing some action here and there throughout the abbreviated 5 game season.
McClendon was selected by the Vegas Vipers of XFL23.
He’d start 4 games, and complete 67 of 112 passes for 873 yards and 5 TDs to 1 interception.
With fleet feet, he escaped defenses to the tune of 30 carries for 137 yards.
With the merger between the USFL and XFL completed in time for 2024, McClendon was picked up by the DC Defenders.
Jalan backed up Jordan Ta’Amu but completed 13 of 21 passes for 129 yards in reserve duty.
Finally in 2025, McClendon was given a chance to shine for the Houston Roughnecks.
Fighting his way through a QB derby to start, he’d lead the team to a 4-2 record as starter, and complete 147 of 225 passes for 1464 yards and 6 TDs to 3 picks.
NOTES:
I had spied Jalan off the roster of the Roughnecks and when they signed him I felt he had starter material written all over him from his rugged appearance with the Vipers in 2023.
I was able to get him pregame early on. He signed these two cards and thanked me for being a fan, very earnestly. He loved the custom of him from his time with the Vipers. I got both his and Mathew Sexton’s, (also a former Viper) signed at the same game.
I really enjoyed making this custom set. It’s too bad that the league has such high churn that I probably won’t be able to finish out this set.
CARDS: Sage 2022, TNT XFL23, Upper Deck Game Dated Moments 2024, Upper Deck UFL 2024, Upper Deck UFL 2024 Parallel, Upper Deck UFL 2024 Exclusive, Upper Deck UFL 2025 ACQUIRED: IP 2024, San Antonio Brahmas v Birmingham Stallions IP 2025, San Antonio Brahmas v Arlington Renegades 2025, Ebay
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
John Lovett played from 2017-20 at RB at Baylor amassing 1,980 yards and 17 TDs on 407 carries.
With a surprising combination of speed and power, he had a 74 yard TD and a 75 yard TD to his resume before transferring to Penn State in 2021.
Undrafted, he spent the 2022 season on the roster of the Carolina Panthers primarily on the practice squad.
Hopped over to the XFL23 playing for the Vegas Vipers.
Seeing action in all 10 games with 2 starts, Lovett ran 59 times for 227 yards and 3 TDs.
In August of 2023 he spent about two weeks with the Steelers.
With Vegas being euthanized after the 2023 season, Lovett was not selected in the UFL dispersal draft- so he signed with the San Antonio Brahmas.
Played in 8 contests, starting 4, rushing 103 times for 421 yards and 5 TDs.
Set the league single game rushing record with 155 yards against the DC Defenders.
He returned to the Brahmas for 2025, but early in the first game he pulled his hamstring.
John attempted to play through it but it merely made things worse.
He finished the 2025 season with 18 carries for 32 yards and a TD, used mainly in short yardage situations.
NOTES:
I knew John had played for the Vegas Vipers in 2023, so I made a card for him that was ready just in time for their home finale against the Birmingham Stallions. He was super kind to always come to my side of the field to sign and talk to fans. I know it was out of the way but it meant a lot to me- and that quality endeared him to me. He liked the Vegas card and thanked me for the extras I gave him.
With his 2025 pretty much washed he was elevated off of IR for the final game so I prepped and packed all his cards. My friend Jake had been kind enough to trade me his GDM card, and I also picked up a Sage 2022 of him I didn’t know was in the wild.
When I saw him going back and forth from the tunnel, I said, “Hey John Lovett!”, With a big smile. He pointed enthusiastically.
I looped around the outside to his area and called him over. He came over and signed all the remaining cards I had. John hadn’t seen his UFL 25 card so I gave him the extra ‘white’ I had for his personal collection in exchange for his autograph on everything else. He told me he remembered me from last year and thanked me for the extra card, and was kind enough to explain what happened with his hammy.
I think he had family in my general area and so he came down to talk to them after the game. He threw his jersey to them and shook hands and hugged friends. I’m not sure- but it felt like a good bye?
In 7 contests he had 3 picks, 15 tackles, and 2 FF before the league collapsed.
He was a signee of the Detroit Lions later that year.
Then in 2020 played in the XFL for the New York Guardians.
In the COVID shortened season he had 16 tackles and a pick in 3 starts.
Houston of the USFL would be his next stop in 2022, raking in 26 tackles.
In 2023, Jamar played in the XFL for the Vipers, before finally playing in 2024 for the Renegades.
NOTES:
When the teams were going back to the locker room after warmups, Jamar came over and said that he had mad respect for my AAF jersey. I said to him, “I KNOW WHO YOU ARE JAMAR SUMMERS AND I HAVE CARDS OF YOU!” He excitedly agreed to sign them on the spot. Since I was wearing my San Antonio Commanders jersey, we talked about the matchup between SA and Birmingham for a hot minute.
He was surprised that I remembered it, but he remembered it down to the correct score! I then quipped about how the weather was terrible and there was a tornado watch that day and they played in a torrential downpour. We both also reminisced that we couldn’t believe it’d been 5 years.
When he saw my AAF cards, he was like, “Oh wow! A true fan!” (Especially when he laid his eyes upon the ultra rare Topps AAF Now 2019 card of his.)
Of note, I think I had gotten Jamar’s Topps XFL Certified sometime ago, but because he ham fisted the autograph, I resisted posting it for a while. It will certainly make a good conversation starter next time I see him. In a rush to get out the door, I forgot that he had a Topps XFL 2020 base card as well. There’s always hopefully next year!
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
