COLUMN: Battlehawks' receiver story is what the XFL is about

It's going to look weird on May 13 when the 4-6 Arlington Renegades take on the 9-1 DC Defenders in San Antonio for the XFL Championship Game. A Renegade upset throws the league on its head while the Defenders would have basically gone from emerging ahead of two 7-3 teams in the North Division only to beat a sub .500 team for the title.

With that game aside, this is the week where the league's impact is felt. Recently a handful of St. Louis Battlehawks players received invitations to rookie minicamps across the National Football League to try out and latch onto a training camp roster.

Chief among them is wide receiver Hakeem Butler, who finished the season as one of, if not, the best pass catcher in the XFL. He led the league with eight touchdown receptions and was a yard short of 600, which is still good for second in the XFL.

“This is about getting back to where you want to be,” Butler said after the final game of the season on playing in the XFL, “but it’s more about proving it to myself. Showing myself I know what I’m about. Proving myself right. I’m not into proving others wrong. I’m into proving myself right.”

Butler's story is what the XFL is about. He only got onto the Battlehawks roster by sending his reel to head coach Anthony Becht through a Twitter direct message.

“I’m sure he sent that out to all coaches,” Becht said. “I’m glad I saw it and took advantage of it. He had been drafted by the NFL. Extraordinary college career. Big target. Great reach. He can do a lot of good things, but he had to clean up some things in his game. Pairing him up with (wide receivers coach) Ricky Proehl was truly a blessing for Hakeem.”

Hakeem Butler was drafted in the fourth round by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 but never got to play due to injury. He emerged in this league as AJ McCarron's top target. A league like the XFL with no history leads to a less rigid locker room, a place where a player like Butler can thrive.

“Since becoming a professional, I have not really had an opportunity to be myself,” he said. “This team, these guys they gave me a chance to do that. They put me in a position to win. I’ve had a ton of fun on and off the field.”

The Steelers did not draft a wide receiver in the NFL Draft. There seems to be room for Butler to stand out in minicamp and potentially training camp.