XFL draft day: QB Jordan Ta’amu headlines Battlehawks’ initial roster

The St. Louis Battlehawks are finally starting to look like a team.

The Battlehawks, one of eight original franchises in the second iteration of the XFL, had only a name, logo, home field, head coach and front office staff before Tuesday. But thanks to the first XFL draft, which began Tuesday they now have players, too.

Their first player actually was assigned rather than drafted. The league office allocated one quarterback to each franchise before the draft. St. Louis’ is Jordan Ta’amu, who went undrafted after passing for 3,918 yards at Ole Miss last season.

Big Arm ✅
Quick Legs ✅

Our QB @JTaamu10 out of @OleMissFB can do it all on the field! ?#ClearedToEngage pic.twitter.com/uRkDQ7AF2X

— St. Louis BattleHawks (@XFLBattleHawks) October 15, 2019

The two-day draft, which will wind up stocking each XFL roster with 71 players, opened with all teams selecting skill position players. Among St. Louis picks were a pair of former Mizzou wide receivers, L’Damian Washington and Marcus Lucas.

Battlehawks picks in the skill position section (listed in order of selection): RB Christine Michael, Texas A&M; QB Brogan Roback, Eastern Michigan; WR L’Damian Washington, Missouri; WR De’Mornay Pierson-El, Nebraska; TE Wes Saxton, South Alabama, WR Marcus Lucas, Missouri; RB Matt Jones, Florida; WR Ishmael Hyman, James Madison; WR Alonzo Russell, Toledo; WR Jordan Lasley, UCLA.

The club revealed head coach Jonathan Hayes’ coaching staff Monday. Jay Hayes — the head coach’s brother — is the defensive coordinator, while Doug Meacham will coordinate the offense.

A name that will warm the hearts of St. Louisans who loved the St. Louis Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf: Az-Zahir Hakim, the star wide receiver who will coach Battlehawks receivers.

The full staff:

Offense: Doug Meacham, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach; Brian Braswell, offensive line coach; Chuck Long, running backs coach; Az-Zahir Hakim, receivers coach; Nick Siciliano, quality control/tight ends coach; Grant Williams, assistant offensive line coach.

Defense: Jay Hayes, defensive coordinator/defensive line coach; Matt Raich, co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach; Tim Lewis, defensive backs coach; Chris Crocker, quality control/assistant defensive backs coach.