As the UFL season is now under 100 days from the 2025 season, the Battlehawks made a splash in their QB room. Despite questions on how the franchise would handle the departure of A.J. McCarron, Anthony Becht and Dave Boller rebounded by bringing in Two standouts along with 3rd year returnee Manny Wilkins. First reported by _MLFootball, the Battlehawks signed TCU Max Duggan, Chevan Corderio, and Manny Wilkins for the 2025 season.
Manny Wilkins (Class of 2019)
Wilkins returns for his 3rd season with the Battlehawks after being signed in 2023 due to the release of Ryan Willis. After spending most of 2023 as the 3rd string, Wilkins was elevated to 2nd string upon the team’s decision to not return Nick Tiano in 2024. Wilkins appeared in Five games for St. Louis in 2024 starting Two going 1-1. Wilkins has thrown for 305 Passing Yards with 1 TD to 3 INT, while adding 141 yards on the ground with 3 TDs in his Spring Football career.
Max Duggan (Class of 2023)
Duggan comes to the Battlehawks for his first opportunity in spring football. A 7th round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Duggan would spend the 2023 season on the Chargers Practice Squad for the majority of the year, before Justin Herbert’s injury forced him on the 53-man roster. Duggan would be released by the Chargers in August of 2024, after failing to compete with Arlington Renegade QB Luis Perez during training camp. Duggan, who comes Council Bluffs, Iowa played his college ball at TCU, where he threw for over 9600 yards, 73 Touchdowns, and rushing for 28. He also led TCU to a National Title berth in 2023 after he led the Horned Frogs to a 12-2 season.
Chevan Cordeiro (Class of 2024)
Cordeiro signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks before getting released on May 8th. After playing at the University of Hawaii for Four Years, Cordeiro finished up at San Jose State throwing for over 12,000 yards and totaling over 100 touchdowns through the air and on the ground in his college career. Cordeiro was the Battlehawks 1st round pick (5th Overall) in the 2024 UFL college draft.
With the signings of Wilkins, Duggan, and Cordeiro, the Battlehawks clearly made the decision to go younger and more mobile for the 2025 season. With the previous Two years extremely memorable, yet falling short of expectations, Dave Boller and Anthony Becht have invested heavily in not only the QB room but have continued to improve at all positions across the board. The Battlehawks have went 14-7 over the past Two seasons since they returned in 2023.
1 Comment
by Ken Granito
Remember I am an outsider when I say this. I am sure they have done their homework better than I have, but I almost feel I would have gone for the sure shot. Maybe bringing in McLeod Bethel-Thompson, the only more accomplished passer than AJ McCarron. Of course people can debate that as McCarron has been in the NFL. As I commented MBT would be a sounding board for Bruce Gradkowski, a gritty and true football player that Anthony Becht would love. He would distribute the ball well as he is a good passer and the fans would love him and continue to flock the stadium. If you had him along with these young passers that would be awesome. Though just traded to the Montreal Alouettes ,he becomes a Free Agent in February. Maybe speaking with him would be tampering, but I feel he would love this opportunity and I think St. Louis would love him, even though sometimes he throws some awful interceptions. I tell you one thing. I would not be afraid of his age. He is a true professional, puts his body on the line when he needs and is in better shape than most rookie quarterbacks.