Former Alabama star A.J. McCarron was selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the St. Louis Battlehawks in the first round of the XFL Draft on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy: XFL.com)

Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer

The St. Louis Battlehawks were awarded the second overall pick in the 2022 XFL Draft. And with that pick in the Draft on Tuesday, the Battlehawks selected former Alabama quarterback and two-time national champion A.J. McCarron to be the leader of their offense.

In the second round, St. Louis picked another former NCAA Power-5 QB, Ryan Willis, who played at Kansas and Virginia Tech.

“Both of these guys bring a lot of unique qualities – leadership, No. 1”, Battlehawks head coach Becht said, from the draft stage in Las Vegas. “Ryan is a big guy, big arm, super athletic, can make all the throws. A.J. brings a lot of NFL experience to us – he’s a guy that quite frankly can win at the line of scrimmage. I think for us, going against some of these defensive-minded head coaches…I think that’s a key part of our success this season.”

McCarron led Alabama to consecutive BCS National Championships before the Cincinnati Bengals drafted him in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

The 6’3, 220-pounder started three games in his second season in 2015, including the Bengals’ AFC Wild Card round loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. McCarron, 32, made additional NFL stops in Buffalo, Oakland, Houston and Atlanta.

Willis took Bishop Miege High School to the Kansas Class 4A state title in 2014, then played two seasons at the University of Kansas before transferring to Virginia Tech.

He threw 33 touchdown passes and rushed for five more in 18 games with the Hokies. Willis, 26, was released from the Chicago Bears’ practice squad earlier this year.

Becht and his staff will build the rest of the Battlehawks roster over the next two days in Las Vegas.