The UFL season is fast approaching! On Monday, the league held the final phase of their dispersal draft, where teams could add any available player who played in the league last year. This is the final step in the XFL-USFL merger before the season begins. Here are the results for the St. Louis Battlehawks dispersal draft.
St. Louis Battlehawks Dispersal Draft Results
The St. Louis Battlehawks selected eight players in the dispersal draft on Monday, January 15th.
- S Dravon Askew-Henry
- OLB Chris Garrett
- S Kameron Kelly
- LB John Daka
- OG Abdul Beecham
- DT Mandy Alonso
- OG Kahlil McKenzie
- OG Christian Olmstead
The St. Louis Battlehawks were worried about their interior offensive line in the dispersal draft. Of all the teams, they took the median amount of players to help fill out their roster.
St. Louis Battlehawks Dispersal Draft Analysis
The Battlehawks spent many of their roster spots in the first two phases. They were able to pick up some high-level talent, so phase three was more about trying to fill out the roster and maybe find a diamond in the rough. Five out of the eight picks were at two positions, safety, and interior offensive line. The team must be looking to upgrade these positions and is creating an open competition when training camp rolls around in February.
Player To Know: Dravon Askew-Henry
The hard-hitting safety played for the New Jersey Generals last season. He was a tackling machine, racking up 71 total tackles to go along with two interceptions. Getting that many tackles as a safety means that Askew-Henry is not afraid to come down in the box and help in run defense.
The secondary has been a big focus for the team his offseason, and they nab a potential starter in the first round of the dispersal draft. If Askew-Henry gets the starting spot, he will be an enforcer who can set the tone for how the defense plays. Teams are lucky to get a rotational piece at this point in the offseason. The Battlehawks may have gotten their starting safety.
Player To Know: John Daka
St. Louis already has a formidable pass rush. They were able to protect their leading tackler and sack-getter from last season. Daka is a perfect complementary piece for the team. Last season with the Roughnecks, he tallied 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He can be used to keep legs fresh without sacrificing production. Linebacker depth is often critical for teams, and Daka is a solid player.
Daka also started six games last season, meaning the St. Louis Battlehawks are potentially getting a starting-caliber player late in the dispersal draft. He will have to fight for a spot, as the Battlehawks have depth at the position, but I would expect Daka to impress in camp.
2024 Outlook
The quarterback position is the biggest question mark for this team. They were able to have one of the top teams in the XFL, largely in part because of AJ McCarron’s play on the field. He found his way onto an NFL roster, and it is uncertain if he will want to play in the UFL this season. It leaves a massive hole on the roster. The team has talented receivers but a question mark at quarterback.
The St. Louis Battlehawks did not take a quarterback in the dispersal draft. They protected two players but might be looking to see who else becomes available as the offseason goes on. Can the Battlehawks have another successful season in the UFL?
For More Great Sports Content
Matt has been following sports since he was a kid. While football is his primary focus, Matt can talk about any sport anytime. He is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
Follow him on Twitter at @sorcerermatt, and follow us @TotalApexSports. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL sports, click here!