After confirming Two Defensive Backs late last week, the Battlehawks confirmed the return of Seven Players for the 2025 season on Monday night. Several of the players signed go into their Third season with St. Louis who despite being spring football’s “premier fan-base” still look for their first taste of playoff success.
Callahan O’Reilly Linebacker
After an injury to Mike Rose, O’Reilly filled in valiantly in the Battlehawks Linebacker Room. The 2023 UDFA, recorded 20 tackles and a 0.5 sack in limited action with St. Louis and was easily drawing interest from NFL teams before ending his season prematurely on Injured Reserve.
Brandon Sebastian Defensive Back
Sebastian has been with St. Louis since 2023 and like O’Reilly finished the season on IR. Over Two seasons Sebastian totaled 39 tackles and 4 Interceptions for St. Louis apart of Donnie Abraham’s Defensive Backfield.
Chris Payton-Jones Defensive Back
Payton-Jones opts to return for his age 30 season with St. Louis his Third season in Spring Football. A veteran of 29 NFL games, Payton-Jones still proved last season he has plenty left in the tank recording 36 Tackles and 5 PBUs. For his career Payton-Jones has totaled 104 Tackles (56 UFL/XFL, 48 NFL) going into his 8th Professional Season.
Jahcour Pearson Wide Receiver
Pearson began the season on injured reserve before fighting his way back into the starting lineup. A 2023 All-XFL selection, Pearson led the XFL in Receiving Yards and Receptions however, failed to muster the same magic in 2024. Pearson has totaled 86 Receptions for 887 yards and 5 TDs in his spring football career as he goes into his age-27 season in spring football.
Juwann Bushell-Beatty Offensive Tackle
Bushell-Beatty is a 2019 UDFA who attempts to go into his 5th season in Spring Football. After coming out of Michigan in 2019, Bushell-Beatty has had stints with the Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, Houston Roughnecks, Dallas Cowboys, Ottawa Redblacks, Tampa Bay Bandits, and has been in St. Louis since 2023.
Kameron Kelly Defensive Back
Kelly stays reunited with Dave Boller and Anthony Becht going back to their days in the AAF. Kelly who in addition to his NFL resume of 14 games, was the UFL’s Interception Leader in 2024, as well as a CFL All-Star in 2022. Kelly now goes into his 6th season of professional football, and his 2nd with the Battlehawks.
Mataeo Durant Running Back
Durant began the season exploding for 104 yards on the ground against the Arlington Renegades before an injury sidelined him early in the season. Durant now returns to St. Louis for his 3rd season with the Battlehawks and has totaled 51 carries for 251 yards, and a Touchdown over his UFL/XFL career.
Final Thoughts:
The Battlehawks so far this off-season have confirmed 23 players for the 2025 season. While so far only Two new faces look to make their mark for the 2025 season, UFL GMs and Head Coaches patiently await to see where the chips fall, once practice squad contracts begin. Last season the Battlehawks went 7-3 losing in the XFL conference championship game to the San Antonio Brahmas.
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