The St. Louis Battlehawks signed running back Jarveon Howard and defensive back Lukas Denis on Friday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Jarveon Howard is five foot ten and weighs 215 pounds. The 25-year-old from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024. In 2024, Howard had eight carries for 44 yards in one preseason game. He missed the last two games with an ankle injury and the Packers released him on August 29, 2024.
Collegiately, Howard played three seasons at Syracuse (2018-19, 2021) with 151 carries for 731 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 11 catches for 77 yards in 26 games for the Orange. Then, he transferred to Alcorn State (2022-23) with 22 carries for 403 yards, 19 touchdowns, 37 catches for 225 yards, one touchdown, and two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in 22 games for the Braves. He was named First Team All-SWAC in 2023.
Lukas Denis is five foot eleven and weighs 190 pounds. The 27-year-old from Everett, Massachusetts, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2019. In 2019, he made 13 tackles (9 solos, 4 assists) and two pass breakups in four preseason games. The Buccaneers released him on August 31, 2019.
After spending two seasons away from football, Denis returned in 2022 playing for the Massachusetts Pirates (IFL) making 69 tackles (42 solos, 27 assists), one tackle for loss, three interceptions, and five pass breakups in 15 games helping the Pirates win the United Bowl over the Arizona Rattlers.
Then, the St. Louis Battlehawks drafted Denis in the ninth round (67th pick) of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, Denis made 23 tackles (21 solos, 2 assists), two interceptions for 50 yards, one sack, and five pass breakups in 10 games. The Battlehawks released him on May 15, 2023, and he signed with the Atlanta Falcons on May 16, 2023.
Denis made five tackles (4 solos, 1 assist) and one pass breakup in three preseason games. He spent the season on the practice squad. In 2024, he made 11 tackles (7 solos, 4 assists) and two pass breakups in three preseason games. The Falcons released him on August 25, 2024.
Collegiately, Denis played four seasons at Boston College (2015-18) making 139 tackles (82 solos, 57 assists), one tackle for loss, half a sack, nine interceptions for 244 yards, one touchdown, 25 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 40 games for the Eagles.
