The St. Louis Battlehawks selected twelve players, including All-XFL wide receiver Jahcour Pearson, who led the Seattle Sea Dragons and XFL in 2023 with record-setting performances
ARLINGTON, TX – The United Football League, the premier spring football league, has announced the results of its initial player dispersal process.
The St. Louis Battlehawks selected twelve players, including All-XFL wide receiver Jahcour Pearson, who led the Seattle Sea Dragons and XFL in 2023 with record-setting performances in both receptions (60) and receiving yards (670) with 32 of his catches resulting in a first down.
Defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole, who led the Sea Dragons with 48 tackles and 3 interceptions, was also picked by St. Louis. Overall, the Battlehawks chose seven players from Seattle: defensive backs Cole, Chris Payton-Jones and Mykeal Wright, defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson, tackle Jazton Turntine, and wide receivers Blake Jackson and Pearson.
Guard Jack Snyder and tackle Sage Doxtater were selected from Houston, while center Dohnovan West and defensive backs Anthony Cioffi and Keylon Kennedy were picked from Vegas. Kennedy led the Vipers with 40 tackles in 2023.
The Battlehawks and each remaining XFL Conference and USFL Conference team protected 42 foundational players from its 2023 roster. Each team in each of the XFL and USFL Conferences then selected up to 20 players from the rosters of teams from their previous league that will not be moving forward in 2024. That process was completed Friday.
Included in the group of foundational players protected by St. Louis is linebacker Pita Taumoepenu, the 2023 XFL Defensive Player of the Year. Signed earlier this off-season as a free agent, Taumoepenu had 26 tackles with 7.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles en route to an All-XFL campaign for the Vegas Vipers.
Players not protected or selected in this initial process will be placed in a pool of players who will be available for all UFL teams to choose from, regardless of previous league, in another round of player dispersal in mid-January.
