ST. LOUIS–One week after Super Bowl LVII, the XFL will be next up on the national football stage, as the St. Louis Battlehawks return to the field three years after the pandemic cut short the team’s inaugural run in the XFL.

Here’s the roster that will take the field next week on the road in San Antonio.

A.J. McCarron, the Alabama national championship signal-caller turned NFL backup brings the most experience of any quarterback in the league, and as Becht has said, operates as the proverbial “coach on the field”. 

In a mild surprise, the team cut QB Ryan Willis, who played in college at Kansas and Virginia Tech, and would have been playing in front of family who live locally in St. Louis. The backup job goes to Nick Tiano, who played in college at Mississippi State and Chattanooga and has been on pro rosters for the NFL’s Texans and a pair of CFL teams.

“We just feel like right now, with Nick, he brings the best presence from hearing the play, delivering it to the huddle, and getting to the line, able to make the call and be able to adjust  and do the things close enough to what A.J. can do,” Becht said Friday. “Really strong arm, he’s got movement ability and he can extend some plays as well.” A third quarterback will be added ahead of week 1.

Another surprise, this time in making the team, is running back Kareem Walker, who played in college at Michigan, Mississippi State and South Alabama, was assigned to the club after training camp started and started as the sixth player on the depth chart.

“We threw a dart at the running backs and the dart went through Kareem’s name and he’s  been a subtle surprise for us so I can’t really take it upon myself that we found him but man, I tell you now…Young, hungry, doesn’t know how to be a pro, in my office often throughout training camp, what do I need to do coach, how do I become a better pro, how do I take better notes…the very basic needs to become a player and live up to the standard,” Becht said. Walker will be one of the team’s core special teams players in a running back group that includes Belleville West grad Brian Hill.

Another potential local connection to the roster fell short on cutdown day Thursday, as the team released former MU defensive back Allie Green, who had missed time in camp with a shoulder injury.

As for the Battlehawks' home field, the team said the playing surfaced at The Dome at America's Center has been refurbished and has passed "the eye test". The field will be rolled up for the next three weeks while the facility hosts other events, and then will get a new paint job ahead of the March 12 opener.