AF1 Nashville Kats

Nashville Kats Announce Next Round of Player Signings

Published on February 20, 2024 under Arena Football One (AF1)
Nashville Kats News Release


The Nashville Kats are excited to unveil their latest player signings, bringing together a remarkable group of athletes with diverse professional backgrounds. The team has signed several former NFL players with experience on teams like the Detroit Lions, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Seattle Seahawks. Additionally, the Kats have welcomed a player from the USFL's Pittsburgh team, enhancing the roster's depth and versatility. The signings also include multiple athletes who have competed in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with teams such as the BC Lions, Winnipeg, and Ottawa, as well as players from the Indoor Football League (IFL), Major League Football (MLFB), and the XFL. With accolades ranging from All-Big 12 Honorable Mentions to All-Conference recognitions and prestigious bowl invitations, the Nashville Kats are poised to make a significant impact in the upcoming season with this talented and experienced roster.

Marquise Irving, WR

6'3, 216

Mercer - 2023 - IFL for Green Bay.

Awards/Accolades/Honors

2019 SPIRAL Tropical Bowl Participant

2018 All-SoCon Second Team (Coaches & Media)

2018 Preseason All-SoCon First Team

2017 All-SoCon Second Team (Coaches)

2017 Preseason All-SoCon Second Team

2016 All-SoCon Second Team (Coaches & Media)

2015 SoCon All-Freshman Team

Tacorian Darden, DB

5'9', 190

Western Kentucky - 2021 Louisville Extreme (IFL)

Awards/Accolades/Honors

2020 Hula Bowl Invitee (Accepted)

2019 Burlsworth Trophy Nominee

2019 Conference USA Honorable Mention

2018 Conference USA Honorable Mention

2018 Phil Steele All-Conference USA Second Team

PFF College C-USA Team of the Week

Xavier Lewis, DB

6', 200

LSU/Southeast Louisiana

Awards/Accolades/Honors

2023 USFL - Pittsburgh

2022 Spring League

2021 Major League Football League

2019 All-Southland Conference

2018 All-Southland Conference (Honorable Mention)

Charlie Brewer, QB

6'1, 208

Baylor/Liberty

2023 - Was with Ottawa in the CFL

Awards/Accolades/Honors

No. 2 all-time at Baylor in career passing yards (9,700)

2nd player in Baylor history to go over 10,000 total yards (9,700 passing & 1,039 rushing) in his career

5th all-time at BU in passer efficiency (138.1)

1st all-time at Baylor in completions (828) first in attempts (1,304) and second completion percentage (63.5)

2nd all-time at Baylor in touchdown passes with 65

2nd in career touchdown responsibility (22 rush, 65 pass)

3rd BU quarterback to go over 20 rushing TDs in a career and also the 3rd QB (40th player overall) to go over 1,000 career rushing yards

4th all-time in touchdown to interception ratio (2.32)

Had a career best completion percentage (79.5) after throwing 31-of-39 for 349 yards with two touchdowns to go along with a career-high 23 carries for 56 yards and two rushing scores in the win over K-State (11/28) (12/12).

Cooper Callis, QB

6'3, 215

SW Baptist University

2023: CFL with Winnipeg

Awards/Accolades/Honors

First-ever GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the year in any sport for SBU

Earned two GLVC offensive player of the year awards

Team USA player in 2022 Aztec Bowl

Harlon Hill Nominees (D2 Heisman award)

2022 finished with a QB rating of 168.81 passing for 2894 total yards.

He is first all time in SBU history in pass completion percentage and passing yards per game.

Led the GLVC in seven passing categories.

Led the nation in passing yards per game (337.5) and total offense (340.8)

A Three-time GLVC Offensive Player of the Year

Named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 list.

Holds season records for most passing yards (3,712), passing touchdowns (35), completion percentage (69.2%), and passing yards per game (337.5)

Holds single-game record for passing yards in a game (512)

In the classroom - achieved a 3.5 cumulative GPA while pursuing his MBA, he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in business (3.58 GPA).

Saige Young, OL

6'4, 305

Vanderbilt

2023: USFL with New Jersey

2021: Spring League with Sea Devils

Awards/Accolades/Honors

Part of an offensive line that allowed only 19 sacks

Part of an offensive line that helped Ke'Shawn Vaughn become team's sixth back to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards and produce the second highest rushing total (1,244 yards) in team history

Part of an offensive line that allowed only 1.7 sacks/game (sixth in SEC)

Helped offense post 28.6 points/game and 411.8 total yards/game, both figures ranking among team's best in last four decades.

Ezekial (Zeke) Rose, DL

6'3, 308

University of West Virginia

Awards/Accolades/Honors

2023: With Mass in the IFL

2022: With Mass in the IFL

2021: With Winnipeg in the CFL (Won a Grey Cup)

2019: With New Orleans Saints - NFL

2018: West Virginia: Academic All-Big 12 Second Team

2017: West Virginia:

WVU's Mr. Unselfish by the Mountaineer coaching staff

2015-2016: Rose played at East Mississippi Community College

Blake Mitchell, OL/FB

6', 290

Austin Peay/UT Chattanooga

2022: With Iowa in the IFL

Awards/Accolades/Honors

2019 First-Team All-OVC

Carlton Brown, DL/LB

6'2, 260

Bellhaven (*from Memphis)

Awards/Accolades/Honors

USA South Defensive Player of the Week (9/25/23)

com All-Region III Second Team Defense (2022)

USA South All-Conference First Team Defense (2022)

USA South Defensive Player of the Week (9/12/22)

AFCA Division III Second Team All-American (2021)

ASC Defensive Lineman of the Year (2021)

com First Team All-Region Team (2020-2021)

Darius James, OL

6'4, 325

Auburn University

Awards/Accolades/Honors

Signed with the New York Jets in 2018

With the Dallas Renegades in the XFL.

IFL with Frisco in 2022 & 2023

Cade Brewer, WR

6'4, 228

University of Texas (Longhorns)

Awards/Accolades/Honors

Signed with the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL

All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2021

Invited to the 2021 All-Star Hula Bowl Classic

Selected to the 2021 John Mackey Award preseason watch list

Named a fourth-team All-Big 12 Preseason selection by Phil Steele in 2021

Earned All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2020

2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree

A four-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection (2018-21)

Named to 2017-18 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team

A six-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (fall 2017; spring 2018, spring 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021, fall 2021)

Carlos Carriere WR

6'5, 208

Central Michigan/Maryland

Awards/Accolades/Honors

NY Giants in the NFL

Hamilton Tigercat's in the CFL

Najee Reams

6'2, 195

North Carolina AT&T

Awards/Accolades/Honors

2021 Detroit Lions

2023 CFL BC Lions

2022 XFL's Vegas Vipers

Jaquain Blakely

6'2, 258

University of Tennessee

Awards/Accolades/Honors

Orlando in the XFL

San Diego IFL

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