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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Kats placed a league-high eight players on the 2026 Arena Football One All-Arena first team and 11 overall as the league announced its top two all-star units ahead of Saturday’s Arena Crown championship game.
Nashville claimed five of the nine first-team offensive positions and three of eight defensive spots. The Kats added three second-team selections, giving the league’s top-seeded championship finalist nearly one-third of the 34 available positions.
Expansion finalist Michigan finished second with nine total selections, including eight on the second team. Minnesota placed four players on the first team, while Albany had four selections across the two units.
Nashville quarterback Tyler Kulka headlined the first-team offense after leading AF1 with 2,835 passing yards and 2,817 yards of total offense. He finished second with 56 touchdown passes while guiding the Kats to an 11-1 regular-season record and the No. 1 playoff seed.
Kulka was joined by first-team receivers Malik Honeycutt of Nashville, Darien Townsend of Albany and Jovohn Tucker of Oceanside. Desmond Maxwell of Nashville was selected at fullback, while Nashville’s Derrick Ziegler, Minnesota’s Toree Boyd and Michigan’s Alex Westcott formed the offensive line. Nashville kicker Kyle Kaplan completed the unit.
Honeycutt led AF1 with 1,047 receiving yards and averaged a league-best 95.2 yards per game. He caught 19 touchdown passes and scored 114 points. Townsend led the league with 24 touchdown receptions and 144 points, establishing himself as the most productive scorer on an Albany offense that finished second only to Nashville in total points.
Maxwell led AF1 with 12 rushing touchdowns, providing an important power element within Nashville’s high-volume passing offense. Kaplan scored 131 points, the second-highest total in the league and a remarkable finish for a kicker.
The first-team defense included linemen Jaquan Artis and Roderick Perry of Nashville and Claude Davis of Minnesota. Minnesota’s Chei Hill was selected at MAC linebacker, with Albany tackling machine Drew Singleton chosen at JACK linebacker. Washington’s Byron Edwards, Minnesota’s Delvon Randall and Nashville’s Omari Alexander were the three defensive backs.
Singleton produced one of the season’s most overwhelming statistical performances, setting an AF1 record with 89 solo tackles — 24 more than any other player. His range and production made him the clear centerpiece of Albany’s defense.
Edwards led the league with nine interceptions, while Randall and Alexander finished tied for second with seven apiece. Randall also led Minnesota with 56 solo tackles. Hill recorded nine sacks for the Monsters, and Artis finished second in AF1 with 10.
Minnesota’s four selections reflected the strength of a team that reached the AF1 semifinals in its first season after moving from The Arena League. Boyd represented the Monsters’ offensive front, while Davis, Hill and Randall gave Minnesota three first-team defenders.
Michigan quarterback Malik Henry led the second-team offense after throwing an AF1-best 59 touchdown passes and finishing with 2,700 yards despite the Arsenal’s difficult start. He helped Michigan recover from a 1-4 record to reach the league semifinals.
Henry was joined on the second team by Michigan receivers Daniel Williams and Jairus Grissom and Beaumont receiver Zuri Davis. Ricky Weaver of Michigan was selected at fullback. Nashville’s Payton Muljo and Pika Leota joined Albany’s Colby Byrd on the offensive line, with Michigan’s Oscar Roden selected at kicker.
Williams caught 77 passes for 829 yards and 20 touchdowns during the regular season. Grissom had 64 receptions for 807 yards and 19 scores, giving Henry two of the league’s most productive targets.
That Michigan combination reinforced its selection with a spectacular semifinal performance against Nashville. Henry passed for 452 yards and 11 touchdowns in the Arsenal’s 92-76 loss, while Grissom caught 13 passes for 232 yards and six scores.
The second-team defensive line consisted of Beaumont’s JD Griggs, Michigan’s Chris Fitzgerald and Washington’s Michael Badejo. Michigan’s Michael White was selected at MAC linebacker and Washington’s Tywon Buckley at JACK. Michigan’s Berdale Robins, Albany’s Markus Smith and Nashville’s Derrick Jones were the defensive backs.
White finished the regular season with nine sacks, while Fitzgerald recorded seven. Robins intercepted five passes for a Michigan defense that became more disruptive during the Arsenal’s late-season surge. Jones ranked second in AF1 with 65 solo tackles.
Nashville led every team with 11 selections, followed by Michigan with nine. Minnesota and Albany had four each, Washington had three, Beaumont two and Oceanside one.
The results reinforced the identities of the league’s top contenders. Nashville’s selections were spread across every phase, Michigan’s late-season charge was reflected throughout the second team, Minnesota was rewarded for its defensive strength and Albany placed the league’s most productive receiver and tackler on the first team.
Individual awards, including most valuable player and offensive and defensive player honors, are scheduled to be announced Friday at the AF1 Awards Banquet in Clarksville.
The Kats, who improved to 12-1 by defeating Michigan in the semifinals, will host defending champion Albany in the Arena Crown at 3 p.m. CDT Saturday at F&M Bank Arena. The Firebirds are 10-3 after defeating Minnesota 69-56 in the other semifinal.
