The St. Louis Battlehawks will open the 2026 United Football League season on Saturday, with a home game against the DC Defenders. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

ST. LOUIS, MO — With an eye on its 2026 United Football League season opener coming up on Saturday, the St. Louis Battlehawks announced their final preseason cuts over the weekend.

The Battlehawks needed to trim down from 64 players to 50 to get ready for the season and released the following 14 players:

WR Jha’Quan Jackson
WR Kelly Akharaiyi
TE Shane Calhoun
OT Tyler Nebelung
OT Ilm Manning
OG Christophe Atkins
OG Jarrod Hufford
DT Freedom Akinmoladun
DT Michael Dwumfour
DT Nesta Jade Silvera
DE Raymond Johnson
CB Mac McCain III
CB Keylon Kennedy
CB Nate Brooks

“We’ve got a group that we like and believe we can win with,” Battlehawks head coach Ricky Proehl said. “We appreciate all the work and effort all those men put in this preseason and they left us with a bunch of tough decisions. But we had to go with who we thought were the best of the best.”

Head coach Ricky Proehl will begin his first season as leader of the Battlehawks, when the team plays its 2026 season opener on Saturday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

OFFENSIVE CUTS

WR Jha’Quan Jackson
WR Kelly Akharaiyi
TE Shane Calhoun
OT Tyler Nebelung
OT Ilm Manning
OG Christophe Atkins
OG Jarrod Hufford

St. Louis has had a strong wide receiver room for a number of years. It’s always been difficult for newcomers to crack the rotation, and that’s exactly what has happened once again.

This time, it’s Jha’Quan Jackson and Kelly Akharaiyi on the outside looking in. Tight end Shane Calhoun was a late addition to camp, but is a bit of a surprise to see cut, with James Bostic still on the team.

DEFENSIVE CUTS

DT Freedom Akinmoladun
DT Michael Dwumfour
DT Nesta Jade Silvera
DE Raymond Johnson III
CB Mac McCain III
CB Keylon Kennedy
CB Nate Brooks

In the secondary, it’s a bit of a shock that Nate Brooks is on the street. The former All-UFL DB with the Michigan Panthers spent the last NFL season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Keylon Kennedy and Mac McCain aren’t necessarily surprises, but it is intriguing to note that Myles Sims and Sean Fresch beat both of them out in camp.

Similar to the O-Line, the Battlehawks’ defensive line unit was on overload. Freedom Akinmoladun is a name St. Louis fans will recognize in these cuts, as he’s been a part of this Battlehawks roster since day one. Michael Dwumfour and Nesta Jade Silvera are a couple of pieces who we anticipated would make the roster originally. Both have NFL experience, and are strong defenders of the run.

Brandon Silvers was St. Louis’ backup QB last season, but played in six games due to injuries to starter Manny Wilkins. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Proehl didn’t say who will start at quarterback for the Battlehawks on Saturday. Most believe it will be returning backup Brandon Silvers, but former Canadian Football League player Harrison Frost has also had an impressive training camp and could be the starting signal-caller when Saturday’s game against the DC Defenders kicks off at 11 a.m. on ESPN.

2026 ST. LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTV
March 28, 2026 (Saturday)11 amHomeDC DefendersThe Dome at America’s Center
April 7, 2026 (Tuesday)7 pmAwayDallas RenegadesToyota Stadium / Frisco, TXFS1
April 12, 2026 (Sunday)2 pmHomeBirmingham StallionsThe Dome at America’s CenterABC
April 18, 2026 (Saturday)11:30 amAwayDC DefendersAudi Field / Washington, DCABC
April 25, 2026 (Saturday)6 pmAwayOrlando StormInter&Co Stadium / Orlando, FL
April 30, 2026 (Thursday)7 pmAwayLouisville KingsLynn Family Stadium / Louisville, KYFS1
May 8, 2026 (Friday)7 pmHomeColumbus AviatorsThe Dome at America’s CenterFOX
May 16, 2026 (Saturday)2 pmHomeHouston GamblersThe Dome at America’s CenterABC
May 24, 2026 (Sunday)6 pmAwayHouston GamblersShell Energy Stadium / Houston, TX
May 29, 2026 (Friday)7 pmHomeDallas RenegadesThe Dome at America’s CenterFOX