Carolina Predators: Franchise On The Rise Heading Toward 2026

What do you think when you think of developmental arena football? Short-lived? Here today and gone tomorrow? That may be true for some, but the Carolina Predators are anything but that. The Franchise was established in 2018 as an expansion/travel team for the original AAL. Since then they have established themselves as a premier development team.

Table of Contents

1 Carolina Predators Ownership:
2 Carolina Predators 2025 Season

Carolina Predators Ownership:

We got to sit down with day one owner, Ralph Byrd to get a little insight into the new owners added, including some from the partially defunct Carolina Cobras franchise that didn’t quite make it to the end of the 2025 NAL season.

The way this AAL2 franchise moves around is similar to its bigger league counterparts, the biggest difference is having a plan and sticking to it. The Predators’ ownership seems to all have the same vision, Take your Time! Meaning this team isn’t going to make any unprompted jumps to higher-level leagues. Obviously, anyone is going to want to play at the higher level, but this isn’t in any hurry.

As previously mentioned two of the four new owners come from the Cobras, those people being Dwayne Bailey and Mark Francis. Both bring plenty of experience in the way to effectively run a team. We can’t forget John Milton and Nick Groth who add stability along with a similar dream for the future of the Predators.

Carolina Predators 2025 Season

This past season, the first in the AAL2, didn’t entirely go as planned, but players moving up early and never quite being able to pull all 30 game day players in the same weekend hindered what could have been a great season. Don’t let the 2-3 record fool you, out of all the losses Carolina was in the game until late.

As we all know road games in big leagues can be tough, so traveling in the AAL2 can have even more of a challenge, especially when it come to game 6+ hours on the road, hence the Tri-City game that never actually happened due to lack of game referees( and the loss at Tri-City) All in all, for an established team transitioning to a new leauge 2025 was nothing to look down on.

During the conversation, one thing that surprised us was the amount of non-local talent. Yes, you want local talent, but in the AAL2 it’s not uncommon to see teams of almost all local players. Not Carolina, but 8-12 guys on their game day roster are typically guys from surrounding states who are housed and set up by the organization. To us, that was just another nod that this franchise really is trying to develop players, not just fielding a team!

Look for Carolina to have a bounce-back year in 2026. The team will be well established in the AAL2. Adding another layer will be the possibility of being a feeder team as they were with the Cobras, we can’t say with whom but conversations have been had and relationships last even beyond the end of seasons and foldings.

Watch this team for potential higher-level signings, they had one player move up this year, and over 18 have been in training camp for one of the big three since the team was founded in 2018. The call-up from this year was Rachel Carter Jr who currently suits up for the Hot Springs Wise Guys of The Arena League.

Click below to see both ‘24 and ‘25 former Carolina Predators playing in the TAL

wiseguys.fanclb.com/Players/dawandrick-crockett

wiseguys.fanclb.com/Players/rathel-carter-jr

2025 Schedule and Results for the Carolina Predators

Mississippi 6-14 L
Tri-City 8-12 L
Georgia. 19-50 L
Tri-City. 33-6 W
Tri-City. (F) W
Georgia. 18-14 W
Mississippi. 6-38 L

Playoffs:

Georgia. 26-34 L (Divisional)

Big Moves in Store for the Carolina Predators?

The biggest move this franchise looks to make in 2026 is winning the AAL2. Owner, Ralph Byrd, mentioned that at the very least they want to establish themselves in their current league before any major jumps, at least two years playing where they are. Even with this (and we can’t say when or where) definitely be on the lookout for Carolina to take on a NAL squad in the preseason.

Don’t expect a 60-14 result, this team will be coming with a beefed-up talent pool and high-quality coaching. I will say the biggest hint at something bigger is a plan to relocate to Raleigh at some point in the next two to three years. What does it mean? We can only guess but it would be a good move to a bigger market.

Meet the Carolina Predators Coaching Staff:

Head Coach/DC: Shawn Wood

Offensive Coordinator: Ralph Byrd

Assistant DC: Barry Marrow

Carolina Predators Fan base:

If you check socials you can tell off the rip that this team has a core following. Not only that are they well known locally. They do plan on playing some kind of game, probably preseason against a higher-level league team in the near future, helping put even more of a spotlight on them and the kind of talent they bring to the spotlight.

The biggest thing, at least locally that owner Ralph Byrd mentioned was the Youth League/Camps they have, and plan on having in the future, one sure-fire way to get eyes on you is community outreach and it sounds like this AAL2 franchise has a good grasp on it!

All in all? This is a team to keep your eye on. They play a tough hard-nose brand of indoor football, combined with dedicated players and an ownership group most Indoor teams would envy! Below will be a link to the team show put on by the Shady Sports Network YouTube Channel!

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