Key names to know for the 2024 St. Louis Battlehawks season

ST. LOUIS – Ka-Kaw is still very much the law as the St. Louis Battlehawks prepare for their third spring football season in five years.

The Battlehawks open their 2024 season with a road matchup Saturday against the Michigan Panthers. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. and FOX 2 will carry the broadcast. The Battlehawks return to St. Louis for their home opener the following weekend.

This season offers an interesting balance of familiarity and change for St. Louis football fans. Anthony Becht is the team’s head coach for the second straight year and kept some notable playmakers. On the flip side, the Battlehawks are preparing for their first season as part of the United Football League merger and may look a little different on both sides of the ball.

Battlehawks season opener to air on FOX 2 this Saturday

Last season, the Battlehawks shattered an XFL and professional spring football league attendance record by packing more than 38,000 fans in their home opener. The team went 7-3 and helped more than a dozen players earn NFL tryouts.

The Battlehawks will play 10 games from March 30 to June 1 as part of the 2024 UFL regular season. After that, the St. Louis Dome at America’s Center will host the UFL Championship on June 16.

As the new season begins, FOX 2 collected information on several key players worth knowing on the St. Louis Battlehawks.

Marcell Ateman #3

Wide Receiver
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
College: Oklahoma State

Ateman played six games for the Battlehawks last season, finishing with 19 receptions and 259 yards. Before that, he spent five years working through the ranks of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals.

Pita Taumoepenu #7

Linebacker
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
College: Utah

Taumoepenu earned 2023 XFL defensive player of the year honors with the Vegas Vipers last season, finishing with 24 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Before that, he spent five years working through the ranks of four NFL squads, most notably the San Francisco 49ers. He earned a brief tryout with the New York Jets last season, then joined the Battlehawks several months later.

A.J. McCarron #10

Quarterback
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama
College: University of Alabama

McCarron, a former Alabama star and Hesiman Trophy runner-up, started nine games for the Battlehawks last year. He led the XFL with 24 touchdowns and a 108.4 QB rating, also finishing second with 2,150 passing yards.

McCarron earned a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals after last year’s strong Battlehawks campaign and saw limited action in two games. This came after six previous years with the Bengals, Raiders and Houston Texans. McCarron enters the new season as St. Louis’ starting quarterback.

Darrius Shepherd #11

Wide Receiver
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
College: North Dakota State

Shepherd played 10 games for the Battlehawks last season, finishing with six touchdowns, 48 receptions and 519 yards. Before that, he three five years working through the ranks of the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. Shepherd earned a brief tryout with the Los Angeles Chargers last season before rejoining the Battlehawks.

Wayne Gallman #30

Running Back
Hometown: Loganville, Georgia
College: Clemson

Gallman joins the Battlehawks for his first professional football venture outside of the NFL and his first season since 2021. He spent four years with the NFL’s New York Giants, his best coming in 2020 with 682 rushing yards and six touchdowns over 15 games.

Mike Panasiuk #61

Offensive lineman – Center
Hometown: Roselle, Illinois
College: Michigan State

An All-XFL selection last year, Panasuik brings stability and leadership to a somewhat-transformed offensive line. Before that, he pushed for opportunities within the Carolina Panthers organization, though has never appeared in an NFL game.

Hakeem Butler #88

Wide Receiver
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
College: Iowa State

Butler played ten games for the Battlehawks last season and established himself as one of the top receivers on the team, finishing with seven touchdowns, 51 receptions and 599 yards. Before that, he spent three years working through the ranks of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles, appearing in limited action. He earned a tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year before returning to St. Louis.

Legend has it that Butler reached out to Coach Becht on social media last year searching for any opportunity. Fair to say, he made the most of year one.

Austin Faoliu #99

Defensive Tackle
Hometown: Santa Ana, California
College: Oregon

An All-XFL selection last year, Faoliu played major minutes in 10 games for the Seattle Sea Dragons and finished the season with 24 defensive tackles. Before that, he spent two years working through the ranks of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. His success led him to another NFL opportunity last year with the Seattle Seahawks, though he saw limited action in two games.

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