ARLINGTON, TX – November 12, 2026 – In each of their last three seasons, the Battlehawks have reached the UFL postseason, yet still seek their first spring title. In Ricky Proehl’s first season at the helm, he led the Battlehawks to six regular-season victories and the second seed in the UFL.
The pressure is on for Proehl and the Battlehawks to bring home their first elusive spring title, and the 2027 UFL Draft presents an opportunity to improve.
1: Draft a Quarterback
Even as the second seed in the final UFL standings, the Battlehawks never found a consistent answer at quarterback, and that was arguably one of the reasons their season came to an end. They went through three different quarterbacks during the short 10-game slate. As a team, those quarterbacks threw 13 touchdowns and a disappointing 15 interceptions, the most in the UFL.
With the Offensive Player of the Year, Hakeem Butler, lined up on the outside, they simply needed more consistency from their quarterbacks. Steven McBride emerged as a breakout star, while Jarveon Howard finished second in the league with 446 rushing yards. The talent surrounding the position was there. The biggest issue was getting consistent quarterback play and protecting the football.
They ran an aggressive Run and Shoot system with a pass-heavy approach. The passing volume was there, but the turnovers proved costly. Whether or not you attribute the inconsistency to instability at the position, it’s obvious to me that Proehl should use the draft to explore quarterback options.
They are too talented of a roster to be held back. Go get a quarterback, create internal competition, and allow someone to light the Battledome on fire again.
2: Secure an Edge Rusher
Unfortunately for Battlehawks fans, Pita Taumoepenu has officially retired. One of the great edge rushers spring football has seen in the modern era has stepped away from the game. He recorded 16.5 sacks in his three years with the Battlehawks and earned a UFL Defensive Player of the Year honor in 2025.
Even last season, he produced another 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss, leaving a major gap to fill in the Battlehawks defense. There was no doubt that they were one of the best defenses in the spring. They ranked first in the UFL with 31 sacks, while also finishing second in third-down conversion rate and scoring defense. The Battlehawks were defined by their stout defense.
With most of Proehl’s defense returning, this isn’t a rebuild by any means, it’s a reinforcement need. When you lose one of the best players at any position, it’s difficult to replace that production. But losing an impact edge rusher makes it even more important to find someone who can consistently pressure the quarterback.
The UFL Draft has multiple playmakers on the edge, and finding a replacement for Taumoepenu’s production may be just as important as acquiring a quarterback for the Battlehawks.
3: Add Additional Offensive Line Support
The third area of need is up front on the offensive line. This is a group that struggled with consistency all year, which resulted in issues in both the passing and running games. They allowed 24 sacks, fifth-most in the UFL, and 58 tackles for loss, the most in the league.
The passing game was obviously affected by the lack of protection. In fact, they allowed seven sacks in Week 10 and four more in their semifinal loss. And despite having one of the top rushers in the UFL, their team numbers still lacked. They finished with the second-fewest rushing yards in the league at 845, averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, the lowest mark in the UFL, and scored seven rushing touchdowns.
The story wasn’t just the struggles at quarterback. The rushing attack also needed more consistency. The Battlehawks need to improve their ability to control the line of scrimmage, and adding depth and competition up front could improve both pass protection and the efficiency of the running game.
The Battlehawks have now been to three straight semifinals and have lost them all. As they hunt their elusive first title in 2027, it’s vital that the 2027 UFL Draft is a key starting point for them. If they can bring in a talented quarterback to create competition, find a way to replace Taumoepenu’s production, and reinforce the offensive line, they could be in an excellent position by the time the draft is over.