Leading receiver Hakeem Butler will return to the Battlehawks in 2024. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

The XFL announced on Tuesday that three more players have signed letters of intent to play in the league next season. The most exciting of which is explosive wide receiver Hakeem Butler, who is signed to play for the St. Louis Battlehawks next season.

Butler, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers this fall in the NFL, was one of the top players in the XFL last season.

Last season, Butler was second in the XFL in catches (51) and yards (599) and led the league in touchdown catches with eight.

The 6-foot-5, 222-pound dynamo was also one of the top blocking receivers in the league, while also leading the XFL with 10 catches over 20 yards or more.

Next season, the XFL will merge with the USFL to form one 16-team league. The new league has not announced its official name or what cities will have teams, but it is pretty much expected that St. Louis will have a team in the league, after leading the XFL in home attendance and merchandise sales last season.

Others who played for the Battlehawks last season that have signed letters of intent to re-join the team next year, include DB Elijah Hamilton, DL Kevin Atkins, LB Callahan O’Reilly, TE Kemore Gamble, and DB Nico Bolden.

The new league did announce recently that the 2024 XFL-USFL season will begin on March 30.