KATS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN ARTIS NAMED AF1 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

For Immediate Release: April 27, 2026

KATS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN ARTIS NAMED AF1 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville Kats defensive lineman Jaquan Artis has been named the AF1 Defensive Player of the Week for Week 3.

In the Kats’ 48-3 home win Saturday over the Washington Wolfpack, Artis had eight tackles and five quarterback sacks. That’s the most sacks in a league game over two seasons.

The Lenoir-Rhyne University product and native of Kinston, N.C., now leads Arena Football One (AF1)with five sacks on the season from Saturday’s output alone. He also has 10 tackles in two games.

Defensive back Derrick Jones leads the team in tackles with 13, followed by linebacker Derrick Maxwell with 11. Jones is tied for third on the team in tackles with defensive backs Trae Meadows and Amos Coleman.

The Kats are off to a 2-0 start this season following last Saturday’s 48-3 home win versus the Washington Wolfpack and the 78-40 season-opening win at home over the Michigan Arsenal on April 17.

It will be a battle of unbeatens when the Kats (2-0) return to action Sunday at 2 p.m. CDT at the Kentucky Barrels (3-0). The Kats return home the following Saturday, May 6, to host the Oregon Lightning at 4 p.m. All AF1 games this season can be watched at TheAF1.com — the league’s official website – and the league’s YouTube channel. 

Last season, the Kats went 7-5 and advanced to the AF1 Arena Crown championship game before falling 60-57 to the Albany Firebirds. AF1 returns for its second season with the following franchises – Nashville Kats, Michigan Arsenal, Albany Firebirds, Kentucky Barrels, Beaumont Renegades, Washington Wolfpack, Oceanside Bombers, Oregon Lightning and Minnesota Monsters. 

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