The Columbus Aviators have been a fascinating team to watch throughout camp. They’ve got a clear leader at QB in Jalan McClendon – but the majority of position groups left us with questions. Now, we have more clarity with the following releases, according to the FOX Sports roster page.
Please note: TE Camren McDonald is still on the roster and was not released.
Offensive Cuts
WR Tyreik McAllister
OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty
OT Caleb Jones
OG Matthew Jones
The Columbus Aviators only made four moves offensively. Notably, OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty was let go. This one is a surprise, considering he’s been a key starter for the St. Louis Battlehawks for three straight seasons. He also earned All-XFL honors during the 2023 season.
WR Tyreik McAllister is a special teams menace, but with the wide array of talent in Columbus’ wide receiver room – he finds himself on the outside looking in. Tyreik has had quite a bit of CFL success throughout his pro career.
Defensive Cuts
DT Olive Sagapolu
DE Antwan Davis
DE Celestin Haba
LB Anthony Butler
CB Shon Stephens
S Marcus Barnes
S Smoke Monday
S Shawn Preston Jr.
Up front, the Aviators lost Olive Sagapolu, a veteran tackle who’s best known for his ability to stuff the run. Sagapolu should be brought back immediately if injuries occur. Antwan Davis and Celestin Haba were depth pieces in the edge room, but Haba may return once he recovers from injury.
Anthony Butler’s professional career may be over this time around. The veteran wasn’t on a roster last year, but made his way back to the UFL due to his connections with Captain Munnerlyn and Todd Haley.
We knew the Aviators would be shedding some cornerbacks. Shon Stephens is an unfortunate name to see on this list. His lack of size hurts his stock, because he is a true ballhawk (16 INT’s in college). At safety, the Aviators cleaned house. Marcus Barnes, Shawn Preston Jr., and Smoke Monday were all released. Barnes was a high profile prospect coming into the UFL, but underperformed in camp. With the emergence of Henry Black at the position, and the sophomore leap from Akeem Dent, Columbus feels comfortable with those two on the backend.
Final Thoughts
This Aviators team will be fun to watch. It’s tough to really say just how good they can be, given the fact that we haven’t seen the product on the field in real, game-time action. They’ve got legitimate depth – especially on their offensive line. If Todd Haley can unlock Jalan McClendon’s full potential, this unit will be tough to take down.
Columbus will kick off their UFL season on the road, taking on the Orlando Storm on March 29th.
What are your thoughts on these roster cuts from the Columbus Aviators? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
