While the current Mountaineers are gearing up for some spring ball, several former Mountaineers are also gearing up for some spring ball in the new UFL.
The UFL, which stands for United Football League, is in its first season after being formed as part of a merger between the XFL and the USFL.
Let’s take a look at where former Mountaineers are at in the UFL for the 2024 season.
Battlehawks HC Anthony Becht
Anthony Becht enters his second season as the St. Louis Battlehawks head coach. In his first season on the job, he led the Battlehawks to a 7-3 record and narrowly missed out on the XFL playoffs.
Becht played as a tight end at West Virginia from 1995-1999, being named an All-Big East selection in 1998 and 1999. He was drafted in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams and went on to play 12 NFL seasons.
He first got into coaching in the now defunct AAF in 2019 when he served as the tight ends coach for the San Diego Fleet. When the XFL returned for a third iteration in 2023, he was selected to be the Battlehawks head coach.
Battlehawks S Dravon Askew-Henry
Dravon Askew-Henry enters his first season with the Battlehawks after playing the previous two seasons with the now defunct New Jersey Generals in the USFL from 2022-2023.
Dravon Askew-Henry started 51 games during his time at West Virginia, which is a school record. He finished his college career with 215 combined tackles, 10 pass breakups, and 6 interceptions.
After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Askew-Henry bounced around several NFL teams but never played a game for them. He played for the New York Guardians during the 2020 XFL season before league play was suspended mid-season from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was then drafted by the New Jersey Generals of the USFL in 2022 and played two seasons there as aforementioned. When the Generals folded in the UFL merger, he was drafted by the Battlehawks in the Dispersal Draft.
Brahmas LS Rex Sunahara
Rex Sunahara enters his second season as the long snapper for the San Antonio Brahmas. He had a standout stint in his first season in 2023 that led to him getting a training camp invite from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sunahara played at West Virginia from 2016-2019, where he started at long snapper the latter two years. He went undrafted into the NFL in 2020 and bounced around two practice squads before being drafted by the Brahmas in the 2023 XFL Draft.
Panthers S Sean Mahone
Michigan Panthers safety Sean Mahone is in his third season with the team after joining when the USFL returned for a second iteration in 2022.
Sean Mahone played six seasons at West Virginia, with his final three as a starter. He finished his college career with 224 combined tackles, 12 pass breakups, and six interceptions, and was a finalist for the William Campbell Trophy his final season.
After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, Mahone signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars before being cut in rookie minicamp. He later joined the Michigan Panthers of the USFL and was credited with four combined tackles during the 2022 season and 51 tackles in 2023.
Panthers WR Marcus Simms
Michigan Panthers WR Marcus Simms is in his third season with the team after joining when the USFL returned for a second iteration in 2022.
Marcus Simms played three seasons at West Virginia, playing in 33 games. He finished his college career with 87 receptions for 1.457 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches.
Simms initially entered the transfer portal after the 2018 season before later deciding to enter the 2019 NFL Supplemental Draft. He went undrafted and later signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who released him from injured reserve midway through the 2019 regular season.
He spent the 2022 season on the inactive list, then was used primarily as a return specialist in 2023, where he had 243 kick return yards.
Renegades RB Leddie Brown
Arlington Renegades RB Leddie Brown is in his second season with the team after joining the team midseason in 2023.
Brown played at West Virginia from 2018-2021, and finished with 2,888 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns in 45 career games.
He entered the NFL undrafted in 2022 and spent time in training camp with the Los Angeles Chargers. After getting cut by the team before the start of the regular season, he went to be drafted by the Battlehawks.
After getting cut by the Battlehawks, Brown signed with the Renegades midseason and played a pivotal role in helping them win the XFL Championship, where he had a rushing and a receiving touchdown in the 35-26 win over the DC Defenders.
Renegades DL Will Clarke
Will Clarke is now in his second season with the Renegades after joining the team in 2023.
Clarke played at West Virginia from 2009-2013, finishing with 110 combined tackles, with 28.5 of them for loss, and 9.5 sacks from 2011-2013.
He was drafted into the NFL by Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played three seasons there then spent two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccanneers.
He got a start on spring ball in 2020 and played for the Battlehawks until play was suspended mid-season from the COVID-19 pandemic. He later had brief stints with the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints in 2020 before being released by both teams.
In his first season with the Renegades, he started nine games and had 19 combined tackles and four sacks. He also contributed with a tackle for loss in the XFL Championship game.
Stallions WR Gary Jennings
Birmingham Stallions WR Gary Jennings is in his first season with the team after spending last season with the Battlehawks.
Jennings played at West Virginia from 2015-2018, finishing with 168 receptions for 2,294 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was then drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Jennings bounced around several NFL teams before joining the Battlehawks in 2023, where he won XFL Play of the Year and primarily served as a return specialist.
Stallions S Kenny Robinson Jr.
Kenny Robinson Jr. is in his first season with the team after not being on a regular season roster anywhere in 2023.
Robinson played at West Virginia from 2017-2018, finishing with 123 tackles and seven interceptions. He entered the transfer portal after the 2018 season but eventually found his way to the XFL in 2020 with the Battlehawks.
After play was suspended mid-season from the COVID-19 pandemic, he was eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round. He spent three seasons there and was in training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023.
Photo courtesy of WVU Athletics
