The St. Louis Battlehawks signed wide receiver Blake Jackson and offensive lineman Mike Panasiuk for the 2024 season last Thursday.
Blake Jackson is five foot eleven and weighs 200 pounds. The 29-year-old from Houston, Texas, made 45 catches for 440 yards, two touchdowns, one kick return for 18 yards, and one punt return for four yards in ten games for the Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL) in 2023. The Sea Dragons drafted Jackson in the fourth round (32nd pick) in Phase 6 of the 2023 XFL Draft.
Before Seattle, Jackson signed with the Calgary Stampeders in 2018. A year later, Jackson signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2019. In 2020, Jackson played for the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) making five catches for 50 yards and one touchdown in five games before the league ceased operations due to COVID-19. After Houston, Jackson signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2021 but suffered a season-ending injury.
Collegiately, Jackson played three seasons at Mary Hardin-Baylor (2014-16) playing quarterback completing 311 of 487 passes (64%) for 4,311 yards, 49 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 303 carries for 1,619 yards, and 28 touchdowns in 39 games for the Crusaders.
Mike Panasiuk is six foot three and weighs 295 pounds. The 26-year-old from Roselle, Illinois, started ten games at center for the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2023. St. Louis’s offense helped quarterback A.J. McCarron lead the league in touchdowns (24), wide receiver Hakeem Butler finished second in second in the league in catches (51) and receiving yards (599), and running back Brian Hill finished third in rushing yards (416).
Before St. Louis, Panasiuk signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2020. In addition, he also had a stint with the Carolina Panthers.
Collegiately, Panasiuk played four seasons at Michigan State (2016-19) as a defensive lineman making 100 tackles (40 solo, 60 assists), 18 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions for 14 yards, one touchdown, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked punt in 51 games for the Spartans.
