On Friday, we saw two more UFL players re-sign their contracts for 2025. DE Pita Taumoepenu (St. Louis), and OL Yasir Durant (DC) agreed to terms with their respective teams.
The #UFL has announced the following transactions pic.twitter.com/KXMJOe69Av
— UFL Communications Department (@UFL_PR) October 18, 2024
DE Pita Taumoepenu | St. Louis Battlehawks
Pita Taumoepenu has been one of spring football’s best over the past couple of years. He made his XFL debut in 2023, with the Vegas Vipers. Pita ended up winning Defensive Player of the Year that season; with 26 tackles, eight TFL’s, 7.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles to his name.
Ghost Rush by @PitaTaumoepenu of the @XFLVipers. Feints with the inside hand, then dips under the blocker’s punch. Great execution & body control at the top of the rush. Taumoepenu is one of the best pass rushers in the XFL! #passrush #xfl #xfl2023 pic.twitter.com/b7uLc2HWp7
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) March 26, 2023
This led to an NFL stint with the Jets. Pita spent some time in New York during the ‘23 preseason, before ultimately being released. With the USFL-XFL merger on the horizon, Pita ultimately made the decision to sign with the St. Louis Battlehawks, bringing tremendous depth and talent to a transformed defensive line.
ANOTHER sack for @PitaTaumoepenu 👏 pic.twitter.com/ax2jjujaJj
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) April 7, 2024
In the UFL, Pita continued to put up impressive numbers. He posted 20 tackles, five TFL’s, and five sacks as a Battlehawk in 2024, starting every single game this season. Taumoepenu had a solid 74.3 Defensive Grade via PFF, also adding 30 quarterback hurries to his stat sheet.
See also
that’s a sack! 😤 @PitaTaumoepenu | #kakaw pic.twitter.com/avstMqhXX1
— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) May 11, 2024
What makes Pita so valuable is his ability to draw double teams. After he got off to a red hot start this year, his production went down a bit – but that’s only because offensive lines were adjusting. This led to more success for other D-Line pieces, and Pita remained consistent on his own end regardless. Having him back is excellent news for Donnie Abraham and this defense.
OT Yasir Durant | DC Defenders
Yasir Durant was an underrated pickup for this DC Defenders team in 2024. He ended up starting every single game, and moved around between positions due to all of the injuries their O-Line faced. Yasir saw snaps at LG, RT, and LT in 2024. He had a strong 63.8 Offensive Grade, which includes a 86.7 Pass Blocking Grade via PFF.
At 6’7”, 330 lbs., Yasir is a big frame who has impressive athleticism. He only committed two penalties this season, without any during the final six games. In a scene where it’s tough to find quality offensive linemen, Durant is an important retention for the Defenders and their offensive line.
What are your thoughts on Pita Taumoepenu back with the St. Louis Battlehawks? Will Yasir Durant remain as a starter in 2025? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
