The St. Louis Battlehawks re-signed defensive lineman T.J. Pesefea Jr. and kicker Rodrigo Blankenship on Monday according to James Larsen.
T.J. Pesefea Jr. is six foot three and weighs 314 pounds. The 25-year-old from Sacramento, California, re-signed with the Battlehawks on August 14, 2025. In 2025, Pesefea Jr. made 10 tackles (6 solos, 4 assists), one tackle for loss, and one sack in nine games. In the playoffs, he made six tackles (3 solos, 3 assists).
The Cincinnati Bengals signed Pesefea Jr. as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. He played three preseason games with four tackles (3 solo, 1 assist).
The Bengals released him on September 12, 2023. Pesefea Jr. signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks on December 27, 2023. In 2024, Pesefea Jr. made 9 tackles (3 solos, 6 assists), three tackles for loss, one sack, and one fumble recovery in 9 games.
Collegiately, Pesefea Jr. played one season at American River College in 2018 with 17 tackles (3 solos, 14 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one pass breakup in 9 games for the Beavers. Then, Pesefea Jr. transferred to Arizona State (2019-22) with 75 tackles (35 solos, 40 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and four pass breakups in 40 games for the Sun Devils.
Rodrigo Blankenship is six foot one and weighs 184 pounds. The 28-year-old from Marietta, Georgia, signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks on January 8, 2025. In 2025, he made 21 of 22 field goals (95%), 55 kickoffs for 3,545 yards (64.5 AVG), and three touchbacks in 10 games. He was named to the All-UFL Team. In the playoffs, he had three kickoffs for 205 yards (68.3 AVG) and two touchbacks.
The Indianapolis Colts signed Blankenship as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2020. Blankenship played a little over two seasons in Indianapolis, making 45 of 54 field goals (83.3%) with a long of 53 yards, making 52 of 55 field goals, and 30 kickoffs for 1,862 yards (62.0 AVG), and 19 touchbacks in 22 games. The Colts released him on September 13, 2022.
The Arizona Cardinals signed Blankenship on October 18, 2022. In 2022, he made 1 of 2 field goals (50%) with a long of 50 yards, 2 of 3 extra points, 14 kickoffs for 916 yards (65 AVG), and 13 touchbacks in two games. The Cardinals released him on November 2, 2022.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Blankenship on June 15, 2023. In 2023, he made 2 of 4 field goals (50%), with a long of 35 yards, and two kickoffs for 125 yards (62.5 AVG). The Buccaneers released him on August 21, 2023.
Collegiately, Blankenship played four seasons at Georgia (2016-19), making 80 of 97 field goals (82.5%), with a long of 55 yards, 330 kickoffs for 20,898 yards (63.3 AVG), 234 touchbacks, one carry for -2 yards, and four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) in 41 games for the Bulldogs.
In the 2018 Rose Bowl Game against the Oklahoma Sooners, Blankenship kicked a 55-yard field goal, which was the longest field goal made in Rose Bowl history. He was named First Team All-SEC in 2019, Second Team All-SEC in 2018, and the winner of the Lou Groza Award in 2019 as the nation’s top placekicker.
