Football | 10/30/2026 11:59:00 AM

October 30, 2026-Emporia State alum Tyler Kahmann has been named the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie for his 2026 season with the Toronto Argonauts.

The Haysville, Kan. native received 30 of a possible 52 first-place votes and finished in the top three on 44 ballots from the members of the Football Reporters of Canada.  He finished the season with 77 receptions for 1,092 yards and eight touchdowns. He is tied for third in the CFL in touchdowns and second-down conversions (30), 12th in receiving yards, and 14th in receptions. The Emporia State product leads all rookies in all major receiving categories in 2026.

Kahmann was a consensus All-American for the Hornets after being named to the inaugural Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Team, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA), Associate Press (AP) and Don Hansen Football Gazette First-Teams as well as a being named First-Team in the D2Football.com Elite 100 list.
 
He is a two-time first-team D2CCCA All-Region selection, two time first-team All-MIAA selection and was a unanimous pick for all-conference as a senior. He led the nation in receiving yards per game, receptions per game and touchdown catches.  His 1,488 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns set Emporia State single season records while his 100 catches are second all-time at Emporia State to his 101 receptions as a junior in 12 games. 
 
He is the MIAA record holder with 54 career touchdown grabs and set the MIAA single game record with 296 receiving yards against Neb.-Kearney.  He holds virtually every Emporia State single game, single season and career receiving record.  In his career he has 3,686 receiving yards on 282 receptions and 54 touchdowns. His five touchdown receptions against Neb.-Kearney are also a school record.

Kahmann is a two-time Academic All-American, earning First-Team honors as a senior after being named Second-Team as a junior. He had a 4.00 Graduate GPA after graduating with a 3.74 GPA in Business. He was a three-time MIAA Scholar-Athlete for earning All-Conference honors on the field while maintaining at least a 3.50 GPA and has made the MIAA Academic Honor Roll every season he was at Emporia State.  He graduated Magna Cume Laude with his bachelor's degree in business and graduate with his MBA in 2025.

The Argonauts finished the regular season 9-9 and second in the East Division of the CFL.  They play host to Winnipeg in the Division Semifinals on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.  The Hornets are 8-0 and ranked #8 in the nation as they head to Maryville, Mo. on Saturday to take on #11 Northwest Missouri.