St. Louis Battlehawks coach Anthony Becht hasn’t announced his starting quarterback yet, but one thing is certain; that individual will be paired with Hakeem Butler, the UFL’s best wide receiver.
UFL’s Hakeem Butler Overcomes Bad Luck With Superior Talent
The UFL Offensive Player Of The Year, Butler led the league with 652 yards on 45 receptions with five touchdowns. Appearing in all ten regular-season games, Butler consistently ranked among the UFL’s top weekly performers with multiple 100-plus yard games to his credit. On April 28, 2024, in a game against the D.C. Defenders, Butler caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from AJ McCarron that made the record books as the UFL’s second-longest play from scrimmage.
Butler isn’t new to spring football or the Battlehawks. Drafted by St. Louis in the fifth round of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft, Butler recorded 51 catches for 599 yards with eight touchdowns. Ranking number one in touchdowns that season, he was second overall in the league for total yards and receptions behind Jahcour Pearson (670 yards and 60 receptions.)
Butler -The Early Years
A native of Baltimore, MD the 28-year-old Butler had a breakout junior year at Iowa State. Teaming up with Brock Purdy as his collegiate quarterback, Butler recorded 60 receptions for 1,318 yards with nine touchdowns. Butler broke a school record for the most receiving yards in a single season and decided to forego his senior year for the 2019 NFL Draft.
At 6’6” and 227 lbs. Butler’s physicality and his pre-draft measurables made him an impressive candidate. Clocking a speedy 4.48 performance in the 40-yard dash, Butler has an arm span of 35 1/4” coupled with large 10 3/4” hands.
PFF noted that with 19 receptions, Butler had more 20-plus yard downfield catches than anyone else in his draft class. Projected as the number six receiver, he charted just behind D.K Metcalf, A.J. Brown, and Marquise Brown who ranked one, two, and five respectively. Also in that same draft class, Deebo Samuel came in at number seven.
Butler -The NFL years
Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round with the 103rd pick, Butler seemed destined for a promising NFL career. But after breaking his hand during training camp, he missed the entire season. The following year, the Cardinals waived him during the preseason. A few weeks later, Butler signed to the Carolina Panthers practice squad but within days, he was acquired by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Signed to their 53-man roster as a tight end, Butler was tasked with learning a new position. However, playing behind Jason Croom, Zach Ertz, and Dallas Goedert meant he saw only limited action in two games. Butler was waived and re-signed to the Eagles practice squad within weeks.
Although the Eagles signed Butler to a reserve/future contract in January 2021, he was waived the following August. With Butler’s NFL options waning, he signed with the Canadian Football League the following February. But once again, Butler spent more time warming the bench than playing.
Butler Emerges As A Star In Spring Football
It would be another year before he finally succeeded with the XFL Battlehawks. Spring football afforded Butler a consistent opportunity to play the game that he loved. Benefitting from the one-on-one coaching, meticulous preparation, and a disciplined work ethic, Butler began to distinguish himself on the playing field. Soon, he led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.
Butler Gets Another Shot At the NFL
Following his spring football success, the NFL again took notice of his outstanding performance and he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Butler’s superior speed and athleticism were on full display in training camp. His performance on day three caused quite a stir. Making two sensational sideline catches, Butler stunned onlookers with his ability to stay in bounds.
But once again, bad timing and worse luck intervened, abruptly ending his promising NFL career. Butler was waived in August of 2023 with an undisclosed injury designation.
After the 2024 UFL season, Butler had one more shot during the Cincinnati Bengals training camp. But the Bengals were an unlikely landing spot, well-equipped with a talented receiving core. Competing for reps with premier receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Butler didn’t have much of an opportunity to show what he could do. He was cut after only a few weeks.
Butler’s talent and tall athletic build are ideally suited to playing professional football. Why has NFL success proved elusive for Butler? Perhaps it’s due to a lack of opportunity or simply a question of bad timing and poor luck.
A year ago, San Antonio Brahmas head coach Wade Phillips was so impressed playing against Butler during the playoffs that he was recorded on camera stating that he belonged in the NFL. “I’m going to tell everybody in the NFL that I talk to that you need to be playing,” Phillips told Butler. “You deserve it.”
Superior UFL Talent Can Lead To NFL Greatness
Despite the elite production of Pro Bowl talents KaVontae Turpin, Brandon Aubrey, and Jake Bates, the perception exists that spring football players aren’t good enough to make it in the NFL. But when you pair a supremely talented athlete with consistent coaching and a genuine opportunity to succeed, the results speak for themselves.
Butler’s 2024 statistics compare favorably with the best of his draft class currently playing in the NFL. Appearing in 13 regular season games this past year with the Philadelphia Eagles, Brown had an impressive 67 receptions for 1,079 yards with seven touchdowns. Metcalf had 66 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games with the Seattle Seahawks. Samuel, the San Francisco 49ers star receiver, had an uncharacteristically slow season, scoring three touchdowns on 51 receptions for 670 yards in 16 games.
Although Butler played in only 10 games with the Battlehawks, he had 652 yards on 45 receptions with five touchdowns. While he is a superstar in the UFL, Butler hasn’t let go of his NFL dreams. One can only imagine what he might achieve with first-team reps over an entire NFL season.
Main Photo: Sam Greene – Imagn Images
