Welcome to our UFL Week 5 – Players of the Week – “Fan’s Choice” results. Voting began immediately at the completion of the final game on Sunday. We gathered over 1450 votes before the closing of polls at 5:00PM Eastern on Tuesday April 30, 2024. We thank all who voted!
Fans were asked to nominate any player they deemed worthy of the honor, in three categories: Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams. Winners below are based on the number of votes received for each player.
UFL Offensive Player of the Week:
#88 Hakeem Butler, Wide Receiver, St. Louis Battlehawks
Hakeem Butler #88 of the St. Louis Battlehawks celebrates scoring a touchdown against the DC Defenders during the fourth quarter in the game at Audi Field on April 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/UFL/Getty Images)
St. Louis Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler was simply amazing, catching six passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns in the Battlehawks’ 45-12 victory over the D.C. Defenders.
The fans said:
Butler made an amazing 80-yard touchdown that put the game out of reach (Anonymous)
147 yards, 2 TDs, looked absolutely dominant despite injuries piling up all around the Hawks. (Anonymous)
Longest play of the season: 80 Yard Touchdown catch (Anonymous)
Honorable Mentions
Wes Hills, Running Back, Michigan Panthers
Rushed 16 times for 82 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 35-18 win over the Memphis Showboats (Anonymous)
Three touchdowns in a game, and that’s special. (T.P.)
John Lovett, Running Back, San Antonio Brahmas
Lovett rushed 13 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns, plus 3 catches for 13 yards. (Anonymous)
John Lovett one-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter killed the Renegades chances. (JanB)
UFL Defensive Player of the Week: #57 Breeland Speaks, Defensive End, San Antonio Brahmas
Breeland Speaks #57 of the Michigan Panthers celebrates a play against the Memphis Showboats during the second quarter in the game at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on April 28, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew A. Smith/UFL/Getty Images)
Michigan Panthers defensive end Breeland Speaks had a stellar game against the Memphis Showboats, finishing the game with four total tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble in the Panthers’ victory.
The fans said:
Speaks dominated the boats sacking Troy Williams 3 times and forcing a fumble. (Mirrorkat)
Three huge sacks. Made the Showboats pay the price for not blocking him. (Anonymous)
Michigan feasted on the Showboats offense with seven sacks and Breeland Speaks was the leader with three sacks. Amazing! (Anonymous)
Honorable Mention
Mike Rose, Linebacker, St. Louis Battlehawks
He shut down Ta’amu (Anonymous)
He was a key contributor to every defense play, including his interception. (Anonymous)
UFL Special Teams Player of the Week:
#19 Andre Szmyt, Kicker, St. Louis Battlehawks
Kicker Andre Szmyt, St. Louis Battlehawks. (Twitter)
In a week where placekickers suddenly had difficulty putting it though the uprights, St. Louis kicker Andre Szmyt was automatic, kicking 4 for 4 and putting 12 points on the board in the Battlehawks week five romp over the D.C. Defenders.
The fans said:
Szmyt was good from 37, 51, 22, and 39. He was a kicking machine.
Solid kicking for the BHawks (Anonymous)
Made every field goal he was asked to kick. (Anonymous)
Honorable Mention
Titus Swen, Running Back, Memphis Showboats
Titus Swen with 7 kickoff returns for 188 yards, averaging 27 yards per return against one of the best kickoff specialists in the league (Jon)
Gave the Showboats decent field position through a game where they needed it. (Anonymous)
