The St. Louis Battlehawks released linebacker Luke Masterson and defensive back Jonathan Sutherland on Friday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Luke Masterson is six foot one and weighs 220 pounds. The 28-year-old from Naples, Florida, signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022. Masterson spent three seasons in Las Vegas with 103 tackles (57 solos, 46 assists), four tackles for loss, one pass breakup, and two forced fumbles in 37 games. He was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury and became a free agent after the 2024 season.
Collegiately, Masterson spent five seasons at Wake Forest (2017-21) with 223 tackles (149 solos, 74 assists), 19.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception for 43 yards, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 49 games for the Demon Deacons. He was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2021 and the 2022 Hulu Bowl Defensive MVP.
Jonathan Sutherland is five foot eleven and weighs 202 pounds. The 25-year-old from Ottawa, Ontario, signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on May 12, 2025. They released him on June 13, 2025. The St. Louis Battlehawks drafted Sutherland in the 2026 UFL Draft. He signed with the Montreal Alouettes on January 23, 2026.
The Montreal Alouettes drafted Sutherland in the first round (5th pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft. Many had him going higher had he not been interested in the NFL. Sutherland signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. In 2023, he made ten tackles (3 solo, 7 assists) in two preseason games. The Seahawks released him on August 29, 2023.
The Seahawks re-signed Sutherland to the practice squad on October 31, 2024. The Seahawks released him again on July 26, 2024. The New York Giants signed Sutherland on August 15, 2024. In 2024, he made two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in one preseason game against the Houston Texans. The Giants released him on August 25, 2024.
Collegiately, Sutherland played five seasons at Penn State (2018-22) with 137 tackles (78 solos, 59 assists), eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two blocked kicks in 58 games for the Nittany Lions.
In his final season at Penn State, Sutherland had 38 tackles (24 solos, 14 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery in 13 games. He was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy and helped the Nittany Lions win the 2023 Rose Bowl over Utah with three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist).
