Battlehawks RB Jacob Saylors (15) and OL Mike Panasiuk (61) were both named to the inaugural All-UFL team on Wednesday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
The United Football League announced its inaugural All-UFL Team on Wednesday. Players from all eight UFL teams were represented in the league’s first ever player honor roll.
Five members of the St. Louis Battlehawks — four on offense, one on defense — were named to the ALL-UFL team.
Headlining that list for the Battlehawks was wide receiver Hakeem Butler, who led the UFL in receiving yards (652), tied for second in touchdown catches (five), and was tied for third in receptions (45). No other receiver in the league was in the top three in all three categories.
Battlehawks running back Jacob Saylors also made the team. He led St. Louis in rushing and was second in the entire league in rushing yards (461) and rushing touchdowns (five). Saylors also led all UFL running backs with a 4.9 yards per carry average.
Offensive linemen Jaryd Jones-Smith and Mike Panasiuk were the other Battlehawks offensive players to make the All-UFL team. Jones-Smith is St. Louis’ starting left tackle and has shown himself to be one of the best two-way blockers in the entire league. Panasiuk starts at center for the Battlehawks and is considered the anchor of the club’s dominant offensive line play.
Linebacker Willie Harvey was the lone Battlehawks defensive player to make the team and many consider him a contender for the UFL Defensive Player of the Year award, after he led the league in total tackles (78), finished second in tackles for loss (nine), and was 10th in the league in quarterback sacks (4.5) — teammates Travis Feeney and Pita Taumoepenu led St. Louis with five sacks this season.
2024 All-UFL Team
Offense
Quarterback – Adrian Martinez, Birmingham Stallions
Running Back – Jacob Saylors, St. Louis Battlehawks
Wide Receiver – Hakeem Butler, St. Louis Battlehawks; Daewood Davis, Memphis Showboats; Marcus Simms, Michigan Panthers
Tight End – Jace Sternberger, Birmingham Stallions
Offensive Tackle – Jaryd Jones-Smith, St. Louis Battlehawks; Bobby Evans, Arlington Renegades
Offensive Guard – Zack Johnson, Birmingham Stallions; Kohl Levao, San Antonio Brahmas
Center – Mike Panasiuk, St. Louis Battlehawks
Defense
Defensive Line – Carlos Davis, Birmingham Stallions; Daniel Wise, Michigan Panthers
Edge/Outside Linebacker – Chris Odom, Houston Roughnecks; Breeland Speaks, Michigan Panthers
Inside Linebacker – Tavante Beckett, San Antonio Brahmas; Willie Harvey, St. Louis Battlehawks
Cornerback – Deandre Baker, D.C. Defenders; Nate Brooks, Michigan Panthers; Ajene Harris, Arlington Renegades
Safety – Kai Nacua, Michigan Panthers; A.J. Thomas, Birmingham Stallions
Special Teams
Kicker – Jake Bates, Michigan Panthers
Punter – Marquette King, Arlington Renegades
Long Snapper – Jordan Ober, Michigan Panthers
Return Specialist – Chris Rowland, D.C. Defenders
The 2024 UFL playoffs begin this weekend. The USFL Conference Championship Game is slated for 2 p.m., on Saturday, when the 9-1 Birmingham Stallions will host the 7-3 Michigan Panthers at Protective Stadium in Birmingham Stallions.
The XFL Conference Championship will be Sunday at 6 p.m., live from The Dome at America’s Center, where the Battlehawks will host the San Antonio Brahmas. Both clubs finished the regular season with 7-3 records, but St. Louis earned home-field advantage by sweeping San Antonio in the club’s two regular season meetings.
The 2024 season will conclude on Sunday, June 16, with the UFL Championship Game, which will also be played at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. The winners of the two conference championships will meet for the title.