USL League One Season Preview, 2025

How all 14 clubs in League One stack up heading into the new year

In less than a week, the 2025 USL League One season will kick off in Statesboro with Tormenta hosting Richmond. It’s been a hugely eventful offseason for the league between Omaha’s title win and the season opener, featuring Jagermeister Cup expansion, the loss of two clubs, and the corresponding launch of five new teams dotted across the map. Even amidst the tumult, League One has never felt stronger on and off the pitch.

How will the season shake out? That’s what I’m here to answer. I’m power ranking all 14 clubs from title favorite to also-ran, offering up breakdowns of major signings, depth charts predictions, and tactical assessments along the way.

Without further ado, let’s get to it.

1.) Spokane

Major Signings

Nil Vinyals, CM: Arguably the best passer in League One, Vinyals made more than 100 appearances in Richmond before decamping for the northwest this offseason. The 28-year-old pitched in six assists across USL competitions last year on 94th percentile xA, and his ability to carve out space to create from the left half space is unmatched in the third division.

Neco Brett, ST: Though he missed most of the 2024 season with an injury, Brett put up 46 goals between 2020 and 2023 to cement himself as one of the USL’s – not just League One’s – most reliable scorers. The goals are a guarantee, but Brett’s contributions in the press and as a hold-up player will be fascinating to track in Spokane.

David Garcia, CB: Among the league’s best right-footed center backs, Garcia has picked up a trophy in each of his last two seasons between North Carolina and Northern Colorado. The defender won more than 60% of his duels and completed upwards of 85% of his passes last season, proving to be a model of efficiency that will fit like a glove in Leigh Veidman’s back line.

Lucky Opara, LB/RB: Opara rarely got assigned the sexy work for a high-flying Northern Colorado team, but his versatility allowed him to do a bang-up job across their back four. The ex-Hailstorm stalwart won 80% of his tackle attempts in league play in 2024, all while posting 2.7 takeaways per match.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

Among USL League One’s returning nonet of clubs, no team went long from the back less than Spokane or exceeded their average of 525 passes per match. Leigh Veidman’s Velocity knew how to keep the tempo up, build with patience, and leverage a tremendously skillful central midfield – albeit to somewhat limited returns early in the season. A few stylistic tweaks later, and Spokane landed on the out-of-possession 4-4-2 that solidified their defensive structure, allowed Luis Gil to feast in a linking forward role, and ultimately saw the expansion side earn a title game appearance.

Those lessons appear to have stuck, and Spokane’s offseason centered around improving upon that formula. David Garcia, for instance, immediately becomes this team’s best center back. Lucky Opara is familiar with Garcia, and he’ll capably fill any defensive hole that arises. Shavon John-Brown brings speed and verticality on the right side, giving the Velocity genuine spark on both flanks. Neco Brett is a potential game-changer at striker.

Brett’s ability to score is unquestionable – he’s a preternatural finisher. Whether he has the hold-up and pressing chops to diversify Spokane is a different question. Last season, Anuar Pelaez (a midseason addition but key figure in the postseason) put up just 0.3 pressing takeaways per game while winning 32% of his duels; Brett put up identical pressing numbers on a 31% duel win rate in 2023. In other words, Brett is basically the “Golden Boot contender” version of what already took the Velocity to a title game. Spokane didn’t need something different and doubled down on a known profile.

Perhaps counterintuitively, Spokane fared better in a back four than in a low-block back five last season. Identifying Camron Miller and Javier Martin as regular starters in the rethought shape did much of the heavy lifting. Even with the new signings, both project to be starters, and both are sure to improve as they enter their sophomore seasons. Provided that new goalkeeper Ryan Bilichuk, a career 65% save percentage netminder with Timbers 2, at least treads water, the defense ought to be organized from the start.

Your mileage may vary with Spokane. I believe that their late-season improvement was the result of legitimate, replicable tactical changes. Those gains won’t go away, and adding players like Nil Vinyals into that mix ups the ante. Throwing what’s arguably the best offseason haul in League One onto the existing Velocity system, and you’ve got yourself a title favorite.

2.) Omaha

Major Signings

Brent Kallman, CB: A Nebraska native, Kallman got his start in the NASL, followed Minnesota United to MLS from there, and was nothing short of rock-solid for the better part of a decade. Best suited to the central role in Omaha’s back three, Kallman is the sort of veteran leader that can keep a back line steady, and his game is such that he won’t lose much as he ages into his later 30s.

Kemy Amiche, AM: Good for 10.0 xG+xA and more touches per game than any other MLS Next Pro winger in 2023, Amiche was the sort of high-volume attacker that could unlock defenses for an otherwise direct and possessively middling Huntsville team. Paired with Lagos Kunga on either side of the Omaha front line, Amiche ought to be a tremendous weapon.

Isidro Martinez, CM/AM: With more than 100 chances created and 200 ball recoveries over the past two seasons, there are few League One midfielders as impactful as Martinez. “Chelo” is versatile enough to do it all in the center of the park, representing Omaha’s most dangerous creative threat out of the pivot.

Mehdi Ouamri, ST: A reigning all-Next Pro selection and Algerian youth international, Ouamri put up a sensational 0.42 xG per 90 minutes with Chattanooga FC last year and converted more than 20% of his shot attempts. While mobile enough to lead a modern attacking line, he’s got four inches on Aaron Gomez and gives Omaha a more traditional option at the No. 9 spot.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

The reigning champs may look familiar on the team sheet, but Dom Casciato’s Union Omaha will need to adapt in 2025. Indeed, it’s hard not to stress about Omaha’s losses, at least on the face of things. Pedro Dolabella leads the pack for obvious reasons – his versatile brilliance set the tone two years running – but exits for defender Luca Mastrantonio (4,100 minutes over two seasons) and Steevan Dos Santos (10 goals in all USL competitions last year) are consequential.

Don’t worry too much. Mastrantonio has been replaced and arguably improved upon thanks to the addition of Brett Kallman, and a new emphasis in the attacking half isn’t necessarily a bad thing – especially for a coach as terrific as Casciato. It’s not like it’s all different. This team can still rely on Lagos Kunga’s best-in-the-lower-leagues dribbling (I said it!) and Aaron Gomez’s veteran ability to slash across the box at the No. 9 spot.

New faces like Kemy Amiche, who put up 13 goal contributions on double-digit xG+xA with Huntsville in 2023, is going to tear up the channels. Medhi Ouamri struck 12 times for Chattanooga FC last year and could unseat Gomez if Omaha wants a classic striker in the mix. That’s a one-two punch that provides legit scoring across the forward line, a meaningful upgrade given that Dolabella was the only Omaha player to exceed five league goals last year.

I’ll be fascinated to see the rotation in the midfield. Isidro Martinez needs no introduction and could feasibly reprise the “holding mid out of possession, No. 10 on the ball” Dolabella role. Pairing Brandon Knapp and Max Schneider in the pivot would represent a conservative turn, but it would also provide a backstop for elevated wing back play. You let that duo sit deep in an “empty bucket” midfield, enjoy their excellent passing under duress, and then allow the wide players to cook.

Indeed, the ageless Dion Acoff and ever-flexible Joe Gallardo (an all-USL snub after putting up 52 key passes and the third-most xA in League One) would feast with added freedom to push into an attacking 3-2-5. That was a feature of Casciato’s system already, of course, but could be even clearer in 2025. Expect the wing backs to be equally aggressive without the ball, given that Omaha lapped the rest of the division with 4.2 pressing takeaways per match last season.

With Kallman in and Rashid Nuhu back, the defense behind that press won’t miss a beat. My bold call is to peg Blake Malone as my Defender of the Year pick. It’s easy to miss how fantastic Malone is if you just look at the numbers, but that’s a function of Omaha’s aggression upfield. Whenever called upon, the 23-year-old was up to the task in 2024 and can raise that level in 2025. Malone is yet another example of Union Omaha’s vast talent from front to back – talent that could take this club to a repeat title.

3.) Westchester

Major Signings

Dave Carton, MGR: A stalwart of the Charlotte Independence system for more than a decade, Carton did everything from youth development to assistant coaching in North Carolina. Carton will’ve learned patience and pragmatism at Mike Jeffries’ side, but this Westchester roster gives him ample room to experiment and find his own philosophical bent.

Juan Obregon, ST: Obregon was good for 17 goals and three assists across USL competitions last season, cementing himself as a premier striker in this league. While the Honduran international isn’t especially creative or slick on the dribble, he makes up for it with a keen eye for space in the 18-yard box, and he’s the kind of signing that makes a statement for an expansion club.

Kemar Lawrence, LB: Speaking of “statements,” a player of Kemar Lawrence’s caliber is a massive addition for Westchester. The former New York Red Bull and Jamaican international put up above-par xA numbers and won two-thirds of his duels in his most recent MLS season in 2023, and he’ll arguably be the best left back in League One if that form persists.

Conor McGlynn, CM: A Queens native, McGlynn brings local ties and a terrific ability to control the center of the pitch. McGlynn’s defensive capabilities make him a natural center back, but he’s also a clean passer with good progressive instincts on the ball. Westchester will probably start him as the No. 6, but his versatility ought to pay off all season long.

Jonathan Bolanos, LW: Bolanos broke onto the USL scene in Richmond back in 2020 and proceeded to tear up MLS Next Pro thereafter. Fresh off a seven-assist, 90th percentile xA campaign in Huntsville, the winger could easily find himself atop the league’s creation leaderboard in 2025.

Joel Johnson, RW/RB: A former charge of Carton’s in Charlotte, Johnson is versatile enough to essentially cover any and all wide positions. The veteran was good for three goals and six assists last year, and while he’s maybe lost a step in terms of pace, you’d expect Carton to lean into his experience as WSC find their feet.

Samory Powder, LW/LB: Look folks, I don’t think Powder is going to see many minutes at left back, which is what you’re about to see in the depth chart. Powder did play that role in the second half of the Hudson Valley Hammers’ Open Cup game against NYRB II last year, but I feel the need to clarify something about my graphics: they’re not a complete picture! You may not know this, but soccer players can play anywhere, and I’m only listing guys once. Back to the point: Samory Powder good!

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

It’s often hard to judge a first-year team. Many expansion clubs sign lesser-known local products or raid leagues like MLS Next Pro, making it hard to project success. Westchester did the exact opposite: their lineup is stacked with stars from top to bottom, and expectations are sky-high in Mount Vernon.

Dave Carton’s biggest challenge? Figuring out how to fit all that talent onto one lineup card. Carton comes from a Charlotte organization that’s been idiosyncratically passive at times, but he’s got a roster with the ability to tear up the wings while holding firm in the central areas. The makeup of the Westchester squad suggests a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 shape for that reason – doubling up on wide weapons and encouraging combination play is a must. Still, a 4-4-2 is on the cards if Koen Blommestijn lives up to rave preseason reviews

Jonathan Bolanos and Kemar Lawrence feel relatively settled as a left-sided pair, and they’re a good litmus test for WSC as a whole. Lawrence’s resume is without fault, but how impactful of a player can he be with his 33rd birthday approaching? Bolanos is going to get his, but the ex-Richmond starlet will be all the more impactful if Lawrence’s overlaps bring a second layer of sizzle. The right side is more predictable given the level of League One excellence in tow; good luck deciding who to sit among Noah Powder, Joel Johnson, and Stephen Payne.

This team’s build style will be interesting to note. Goalkeeper Dane Jacomen enjoyed a relatively high 7.3% touch share in 2023, but he underperformed his expected completion percentage by almost 15%. That’s, uh, not great! You figure he’ll have sharpened up by training with a committed build-from-the-back Loudoun team across all of last year, but Carton may lean a bit more direct and rely on the midfield to battle its way toward territorial control.

If there’s a question area, it’s the defensive spine. Conor McGlynn is a rock, and he could feasibly drop between the center backs in a possessive 3-2-5 (give or take!) on top of the more obvious No. 6 duties. I’m utterly sold on him as one of the best players in League One.

The rest of the pieces look good but aren’t as certifiable. Daniel Bouman and Dean Guezen – the former of whom has a stronger creative record from Australia, while the latter cut more of a “box-to-box” figure in the Netherlands – need to come up big alongside McGlynn. I also worry about Westchester’s speed (or lack thereof) up the middle, especially relative to Rashid Tetteh and Andrew Jean-Baptiste. Again, both are terrific defenders in their zone, but they’ll need to cover space behind those marauding full backs.

Still, that’s me picking nits. WSC has the most talented roster in League One when you go pound-for-pound, and I trust that Carton will find a way to make it hum. There’s too much quality and experience to doubt Westchester’s playoff bona fides.

4.) Greenville

Major Signings

Ropapa Mensah & Chevone Marsh, FW: Teammates in Chattanooga for the last two years, Mensah and Marsh combined for 18 goal contributions in an otherwise feckless Red Wolves side. Of the two, Mensah is the more traditional No. 9 and is a player with ample Championship experience to his name. Marsh is a diminutive 5’3” but makes up for it with guile as a dribbler and a great risk barometer as a final-third passer. Reuniting the pair was a no-brainer for a Greenville team in need of an offensive reset.

Zane Bubb, CB: Bubb was a standout in the college ranks at Central Florida, and that quality earned him a season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2024. More skillful than his frame might betray, Bubb projects as a starting-level center back on the right side of the Greenville defense.

Devin Benton, RB: Little-used in Knoxville last season, Benton was an important part of North Carolina’s 2023 title team and is a key addition to the Triumph defense. Though he’s never been an especially potent creator, Benton is extremely accurate as a build-up passer, clean on the ball, and was dribbled past less than once every five matches to lead all League One full backs during his last full season.

Michael Gonzalez, AM: Having won a starting job late last season in Monterey, Gonzalez stood out because of his confidently tricky dribbling (see nearly three attempts per 90 minutes) and spirited pressing (roughly one final-third takeaway per match). Even if the 24-year-old isn’t an opening day starter in Greenville, he’ll be a ferocious late-game option off the bench.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

Much of the League One offseason played out like an arms race, and that allowed Greenville to slip under the radar despite their accumulation of a hugely talented free agent class. The Triumph are deeper from front to back versus 2024, and they’ve reloaded with firepower of their own in the post-Lyam MacKinnon era.

Even without their star winger returning, Greenville’s baseline approach shouldn’t be all that different. This team posted the second-best expected goal difference (plus-0.36 per 90) of any returning club, and they’ll potentially use seven returners in their opening day lineup – a group that posted a 54% possession average and delighted in shifting from a 4-4-2 defensive look into a 3-3-4 in possession.

The Triumph have more than enough talent to keep that complex system going. Devin Benton, for example, is the sort of right back that could feasibly sit deep and excel in a classic role or do the “pushing high” thing. Rick Wright’s experimental streak could see Pascal Corvino (who was used as a narrow right mid in 2024) or an inverted Griffin Tomas filling that spot in a pinch.

I’m keeping my eye on Ben Zakowski as a possible breakout star. As a rookie out of Monmouth (where he played with Tomas!), we saw Zakowski mostly used on the right with an occasional spell on the left. The result? 29 chances created, which solidified the winger as a top-25 provider in League One despite being the third or fourth banana for the Triumph. Zakowski also exceeded his expected completion percentage and is skillful enough to bear an increased share of touches – he can be the guy that sets the table for Ropapa Mensah and Chevone Marsh.

It’s easy to focus on the sizzle upfield, but veterans like Evan Lee and Brandon Fricke haven’t lost a step. My “points added” model had Lee as the third-best center mid (i.e., non-No. 10) in League One last season because of his terrific two-way abilities. Fricke, meanwhile, won 60% of his duels and completed 88% of his passes and is an ongoing model of consistency. I’ve not even mentioned Tyler Polak, who started 20 league matches and does everything required of him at left back.

Greenville has attacking firepower, tactical flexibility, and a back end that’s riddled with reliable stalwarts. Losing the MVP is never easy, but Rick Wright and co. won’t miss a beat in 2025.

5.) Madison

Major Signings

Jose Carrera-Garcia, CM: One of four players to create 110 chances or more over the last three seasons in League One, Carrera-Garcia is one of the pre-eminent midfield maestros in the division. More than a third of those key passes came from set pieces, which’ll prove immensely additive for a Madison side that create the least dead ball xG in the league in 2024. All that spark doesn’t limit Carrera-Garcia’s defensive contributions; he’s ranked as an average midfielder in terms of interventions since 2022, which is gravy for such an inspired passer.

Nico Brown, LW/LWB: Loaned in from Lexington, Brown put up three goals and four assists in all USL competitions last season while splitting time between “wing back in a back three” and “winger in a back four” deployments. That versatility and consistent effort made Brown a fan favorite in Kentucky, and it recommends him as a stellar fit in Matt Glaeser’s system.

Jackson Dietrich, CM: Dietrich might look like a classic holding mid if you examine his heatmap, but the converted winger is a tremendous initiator more than a destroyer. Northern Colorado often let Dietrich drift toward the sideline to replace a bombarding full back, and he always found the right balance between progression and structural responsibilities within the Hailstorm system. He’s one of my favorite League One players – not that it guarantees minutes in a stacked Madison midfield.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

Forward Madison’s defensive excellence and formational fluidity tend to draw my eye, but it’s worth noting how committed they’ve been to short passing under Matt Glaeser. This club has led League One in possession twice in his three seasons at the helm. Last year; Madison’s average pass travelled just 5.5 yards upfield, comfortably the shortest in the division.

Glaeser wants to control the game by controlling the ball, but his teams have never ranked higher than sixth in terms of pressing regains. After turnovers, the focus is on structure, and no team is better about quickly finding a 5-4-1 in block. Madison’s otherworldly ability to defend in transition is why they didn’t allow a single fastbreak goal and ranked second in League One with just 1.7 fastbreak xG against across 2024.

Can it persist without Jimmie Villalobos and Stephen Payne anchoring things at the heart of the system? That’s the big question for 2025. With a brilliant creator and underrated two-way player like Jose Carrera-Garcia in tow, you certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see Madison go from strength to strength. Carrera-Garcia is fundamentally more attacking minded than a Villalobos type, but you trust John Murphy (seven duel wins per match on a 56% success rate last year) to step up to the plate as a proper ball-stopper.

Replacing Payne is a bigger question. Given Ferrety Sousa’s track record of versatility, moving him to the right seems like Madison’s natural course of action. I like the fit on paper, and I think Sousa is a terrific player – he’s got the trophies to prove it – but I also worry about the balance on that side. Devin Boyce must be extra attentive while tracking back, for one thing. The star midfielder was dribbled past more than twice per game and won just 44% of his one-on-ones last year; both of those marks must improve.

There’s also the topic of Garrett McLaughlin. Acquired from North Carolina partway through 2024 on a multi-year deal, the star forward doesn’t obviously fit into Glaeser’s starting set unless the formation changes or unless Boyce or Derek Gebhard (who earned 2,100 minutes last year) sits. Maybe super sub status is McLaughlin’s role, but I’ll be fascinated to see how Madison can adjust to accommodate such an impactful piece in their squad.

Still, if one of your concerns is “we’ve got a player that contributed to 16 goals for a title-winning team in 2023 on the bench,” you’re in great shape. With the Crull-Osmond-Mehl back three returning in force and Bernd Schippman still holding down the net, Madison is set for another successful season – maybe, just maybe, one in which they finally pick up some silverware.

6.) Tormenta

Major Signings

Austin Pack, GK: There are great League One goalies, and then there’s Austin Pack. No netminder in the division has matched Pack’s excellence in league history; he’s saved more than 12.0 goals above expected since first signing in Charlotte. Given that Tormenta’s platoon finished underwater in terms of goals prevented in 2024, Pack is a transformative addition.

Gabriel Cabral, CM: A champion in Statesboro in 2022, Cabral earned a Championship move thereafter and was a rare bright spot for a Miami team that was bad enough to melt faces like the Ark of the Covenant in an Indiana Jones movie. Cabral’s ability to read matches is endlessly impressive, whether he’s sitting in like a holding mid or shuttling forward into the half space in possession. He’s arguably the turnkey for a new-look South Georgia side in 2025.

Gabriel Alves, LB: A star at Marshall in the college ranks and a solid contributor for Birmingham in the USL Championship thereafter, Alves’ unassailable technical skills and positional versatility are major strengths. He could feasibly play at left back, center back, or as a part of the Tormenta pivot this season, and he’d do all three – at least in my estimation – at a borderline all-league level.

Oscar Jimenez, RB: Decorated from his years of service with LouCity, Jimenez is both a veteran presence and a player that’s capable of genuinely inspired creation from the full back spot. How aggressively he’ll be deployed by Ian Cameron is a question, but you can’t doubt Jimenez’s skills even as his 36th birthday approaches.

Taylor Gray, LW: Gray made his name with Chattanooga FC and didn’t miss a beat when the club stepped up to MLS Next Pro last year. Combining hard-edged defensive effort and instinctual counterattacking with classic creativity that yielded nine assists last season, Gray could be this club’s most important piece in the final third.

Handwalla Bwana, AM: Though Bwana has struggled to stay on the pitch throughout his career, his potential is undeniable – there’s a reason Ben Pirmann signed him twice at the Championship level. At his best, Bwana can be a powerhouse No. 10 around which Tormenta anchors their system on both sides of the ball.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

Well, to answer the header here directly, Tormenta is going to look different in 2025. No team in League One has a lower minute retention rate than the 24% mark Ian Cameron’s South Georgia side has posted this offseason.

In that sense, looking backward towards 2024 is useful for gleaning a sense of style rather than prognosticating success. Among returning clubs, Tormenta put up the second-most final-third takeaways behind only Union Omaha; they also conceded more xG on the break than any other League One rival. No player in the division added more xG value thanks to precise finishing than returning striker Sebastian Vivas, but his team is a bottom-three returner in terms of touches in the box and crossing accuracy.

Tormenta pressed well despite their mixed outcomes, and they’ll continue to prioritize pressure in what looks like a return to a 4-2-3-1 formation. The final third re-gains and ensuing glut of touches out wide were a strength, but South Georgia lacked accurate service and cutback options; those needs have been addressed with additions like Taylor Gray and Gabriel Cabral, respectively. Gray beat opponents on the dribble twice a game last season, and he knows how to unlock defenses in numerous ways from the left. Cabral, meanwhile, was so good for Tormenta’s 2022 title team because he blended defensive excellence (see 2.8 takeaways per game) with meaningful contributions around the 18-yard box.

Given the presence of the wonderfully chameleonic Gabriel Alves at left back, Cameron has the flexibility to run a basic version of his 4-2-3-1 or to get creative. I’d love to see Alves tucking into the pivot of a “three-box-three,” for instance. The fact that such innovation is on the table at all speaks to the success of the offseason in Statesboro.

Still, winning the winter is different from winning soccer games. The starting mix in central defense is an open question at the moment, and while additions like ex-San Diego man Jackson Kasanzu or the towering Anatolie Prepelita might be a good combo on paper, they need to prove it come March. Adding Austin Pack – the best goalie in League One history – will go a long way even if the defense is a mixed bag, but that shadow of a doubt is why Tormenta is a step below title contention (for now!) entering 2025.

7.) Alta

Major Signings

Brian Kleiban, MGR: A veteran of the academy systems of LAFC, LA Galaxy, and Chivas USA, Kleiban is intimately familiar with the youth game in Los Angeles. Though he lacks head experience at the pro level, all that developmental tenure ought to make Kleiban an excellent judge of talent that can weaponize what’s a deep Alta roster.

Jimmie Villalobos, CM: An all-USL selection last season, Villalobos is as tidy as they come at the No. 6 and/or No. 8 spots. The 29-year-old is unflappable as a receiver, where his body positioning is top-notch. Villalobos’s passing accuracy has improved in each of the last four seasons, even as he hit a career high with nearly three long completions a match in Madison in 2024. There isn’t a better anchor in the possession game out there.

Alexis Cerritos, FW: Comfortable in virtually any attacking deployment, Cerritos put up a sizzling nine-goal, three-assist season with Central Valley in 2023, slotted in as a major midseason addition for Lexington in 2024, and beat opponents on the dribble nearly two times per match with a two-thirds success rate along the way. Alta seems likely to employ the dynamo as a second striker in a dynamic forward group.

Elijah Martin, CB/LB: A personal favorite from his four-season stint with the San Diego Loyal, Martin is a bit of a question mark after a lost year in El Paso but is a tremendously astute and technical defender on his day. Capable as a proper left back, the outside man in a back three, or a traditional central defender, the 28-year-old could be one of League One’s best players if he’s fit.

Eduardo Blancas, AM/FW: The 23-year-old Blancas was a revelation for The Town in Next Pro, making a leap in 2024 after stints in various MLS academies. Blancas posted 12.9 xG+xA in a nailed-down starting role last season. Comfortable up top or on either wing, the 5’3” attacker is most notable for his creative abilities, and he could be a sneaky breakout star at the League One level.

Walmer Martinez, LB/LW: Martinez made 27 starts in the Championship last season, putting up 1.8 chances created and 1.6 successful crosses per game. In a bad Monterey side, Martinez was a standout, and his effort never wavered across deployments as an attacker and full back. A signing of his caliber is a coup for an expansion club.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

Take one look at AV Alta’s midfield, and it seems all but certain that they’re destined to drive through the center of the park. There’s too much skill down the middle thanks to players like Miguel Ibarra and Jimmie Villalobos; Luca Mastrantonio posted an 80th percentile completion rate amongst defenders while still advancing play by 10 yards a pass last year. Brian Kleiban is set to combine all that talent in a 4-2-3-1 that starts short but isn’t afraid to move quickly up the channels when the moment strikes.

Villalobos is central to that calculus. The former Madison and Chattanooga star is flawless in the holding midfield position, combining visionary bounce-pass sensibilities with a hyper-aware progressive streak. Across more than 1,800 touches last year, he was dispossessed just 21 times! Whether he’s sitting in and allowing Ibarra to initiate or providing more spark paired with the more defensive-minded Maboumou Alassane, Villalobos raises Alta’s floor immeasurably.

I’m dying to see Eduardo Blancas and Javier Mariona – who I’m assuming will start as a full back despite his extreme offense-first persuasion – forge their chemistry on the right, and I think Walmer Martinez could have an all-league case on the left. The striker spot is more interesting. Kleiban could go with Emmanual Alaribe (5’9”) or rookie Joaquin Acuna (6’3”) depending on his stylistic preference. I’m increasingly sold on Acuna, who put up 0.62 xG per match at North Florida – and didn’t sign for Naples despite being a Naples native?! – while ranking in the 81st percentile for duel wins among college forwards.

For the most part, the attack feels like a sure thing. The same can’t be said of the Antelope Valley back line. Goalkeeper Denzil Smith looks like the real deal, and Mastrantonio is an anchor, but can Elijah Martin come good after what was essentially a yearlong sabbatical in 2024? How good is Kaloyan Pehlivanov, who has less than 3,000 career minutes across the top two tiers in Bulgaria? Can Ash Apollon and Mariona do the job in wide one-on-ones?

There’s a world where the answers to those questions are “yes” across the board. If so, AV Alta could be this season’s Spokane – a team that plays lovely soccer, finds their footing by the fall, and makes a real go of it in the postseason.

8.) Knoxville

Major Signings

Ian Fuller, MGR: After a long USL career that ended with a player-assistant role in Orlando, Fuller made the leap to MLS with that organization before proceeding to spend nearly a decade on the Minnesota staff. All that experience doesn’t give us a hint about Fuller’s tactical philosophy, but it probably sets him apart as the new League One manager with the deepest resume entering 2025.

Mark Doyle, FW: Mostly resigned to super sub status in Rhode Island last year, Doyle made his name as a box-crashing winger in the Irish Premier Division. The 26-year could feasibly play as one of two strikers in a 3-5-2 or as a winger in a back-four formation, and he’s got the talent to make a difference in a crowded Knoxville attacking group.

Scott McLeod, CB: After four years as a starter for VCU in the college ranks, McLeod – a former Jamaican youth international – has starting-caliber upside from day one as a pro. 6’2” but agile enough to cover the outside defensive spots in a back three, McLeod ought to see a fair share of time in the new year.

Abel Caputo, CM: Though Lexington struggled last season, Caputo was steady in their midfield to the tune of an 89% completion rate and 1.5 interceptions per match. The 24-year-old is a bona fide starting-level player, and he gives Fuller the option to move Sivert Haugli back into the defensive group, run a double pivot, or re-think One Knox’s shape entirely.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

Even as they changed managerial horses midstream in 2024, One Knox was utterly dominant as a defensive side. Mark McKeever and Ilija Ilic instilled a low-block 5-3-2 of sorts that allowed just 1.07 xG per game, and that stinginess gave Knoxville time to gradually find their attacking bearings. By season’s end, Kempes Tekiela (11 goals in USL play) had emerged as a star No. 9 at the tip of a system fueled by direct runs from Angelo Kelly and Callum Johnson out of the midfield.

Under Ian Fuller, it’s no guarantee that last season’s formula will persist, but One Knox has returned the lion’s share of players that made it happen. I’ve taken a conservative approach in my lineup prediction above, but it’s just as easy to imagine major evolution. Running a 4-3-3ish or 4-2-3-1ish look with Abel Caputo in the pivot in support of a front line featuring Kimarni Smith, Mark Doyle, and Tekiela (pick any three attackers!) is a real possibility.

The wide players may be the turnkey at Covenant Health Park. Doyle put up a very good 0.8 pressing takeaways per game in the Championship last year, and he could be a fascinating complement to an overlapping James Thomas as well as a two-way workhorse. Stuart Ritchie has the left back spot nailed down; he started every League One game last year, creating 1.5 chances a match.

No matter the alignment, Jordan Skelton – a personal contender in last season’s Defender of the Year race – and Dani Fernandez will be key at the back. Skelton, who ranked second in the league in terms of clearances and aerial wins in 2024, is the solid sort of player that grants other linemates the freedom to explore. Having that backstop allowed Fernandez to flourish to the tune of 87th percentile recoveries per match, many of which were won while stepping up aggressively. New man Scott McLeod ought to feel similarly liberated to the left of Skelton in a putative back three.

Sean Lewis, of course, gives the rest of this team room to find their sea legs. Lewis saved 78% of the shots he faced last season, helping Knoxville to a second-ranked goals prevented mark in the league. If Fuller wants to break the mold, he’d be valid in doing so – and he’s got a defensive core that can buy time in a forgiving League One format where 57% of clubs make the playoffs.

9.) Charlotte

Major Signings

Jon Bakero, AM/FW: A former Hermann Trophy winner and borderline all-league No. 8/No. 10 type in Phoenix, Bakero re-emerged in Memphis last season as false No. 9. How he’ll be utilized in Charlotte is an open question, but Bakero brings a caliber of talent that could make him one of the best players in the division.

Rafael Jauregui, AM: Comfortable playing on either wing, Jauregui is a Sacramento academy product that seemed like the next big thing but couldn’t nail down consistent Championship minutes. Traditionally, the 20-year-old’s strength has derived from an ability to make clever, direct runs from wide toward the box and find shooting opportunities; you can see why that’s an attractive profile for a club starring creators like Luis Alvarez and Jon Bakero up the middle.

Mike DeShields, CB/RB: DeShields can confidently cover any of the positions in a back four – and he’s done so at the second-division level – but the defender’s real strength lies in his ability to win one-on-ones. Likely to pair with the stalwart Nick Spielman in the Charlotte central defense, DeShields is an eminently solid pick-up.

(Kinda sorta technically) Luis Alvarez, AM: So, this is cheating. At one point, however, Alvarez looked certain to be off to Spain on a record-setting transfer! Instead, that fell through, and he’s back and ready to create from wherever Mike Jeffries puts him in the midfield at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Alvarez truly does it all: he completed 3.9 long passes per game, made 5.9 recoveries a match, and tied for seventh in League One for goal contributions in open play in 2024.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

Last year’s Independence were part of a “big six” that comfortably qualified for the League One playoffs, but they also posted an xG margin of minus-0.41 per game. That’s a dreadful number. A high 18% conversion rate and the excellence of Austin Pack in goal patched over the underlying stats, but is the Charlotte model sustainable in an ever-improving division?

For my money, the answer is a reserved “yes.” While Mike Jeffries’ side put up a meager 46% possession share and bottom-end pressing marks, the Independence excelled by trusting their shape in the low block and stringing together fluid, sophisticated passing sequences when they did possess. It’s easy to forget that Luis Alvarez took more than 70 touches a game; Charlotte was terrific at slowing things down, letting their best players create on the ball, and dictating tempo more than anything else.

Much will depend on the extent to which Matt Levy can replace Pack in goal. In admittedly limited minutes, the 25-year-old stopped all 11 shots he faced and saved 2.2 goals against expected – that was a top-five mark in League One last year. Is that performance replicable? Maybe not, but Levy doesn’t need to win the Golden Glove for the Independence to stay steady. As long as he’s credible, a mostly-familiar defense line and reliable pivot group should do the job.

Jeffries ended up using a back five quite regularly down the stretch last year, and it’s easy to imagine that remaining the case. Anthony Sorenson’s immense versatility is the turnkey for that move; a natural left back, he did well on the right (or wherever else Charlotte needed him) in 2024 and may play there from the jump in 2025. It’s hard to argue with a back line of Nick Spielman, Mike DeShields, and Clay Dimick – especially with Omar Ciss and Bachir Ndiaye, who combined for 2.4 tackles and 1.4 clearances per game between them, anchoring a conservative pivot.

The big worry comes at the No. 9 spot. I love Jon Bakero, but he hasn’t proven himself as a pure finisher at the USL level. There’s a world where Luis Alvarez takes on a free creative role as Bakero, Rafael Jauregui, and a marauding wing back do the damage in behind, but that feels like a tenuous balance to forge. Throw in a striker, even one that’s half as prolific as Juan Obregon, and I’m feeling a helluva lot better.

Still, Charlotte’s gonna Charlotte. It may not be the sexiest soccer, but it’s effective. The Independence’s worst-case scenario still sees them in the thick of the playoff hunt.

10.) Naples

Major Signings

Matt Poland, MGR: The former head man with Chicago House, who you may remember from the Midwest Premier League or as an Open Cup darling, Poland builds teams that like to drive forward with the ball on the ground and get their wingers involved as two-way vertical weapons. A small core of Chicago imports pair with a number of League One vets to give Poland a unique roster that’s well-positioned to hit the ground running in Naples’ expansion season.

Chris Heckenberg, CM: With more than five recoveries and two tackles per game over the last two seasons, Heckenberg is among the steadiest defensive mids in League One. Naples doesn’t lack for solid options at the back, but they’ll all benefit from the solidity Heckenberg brings from the midfield – especially if Poland runs with a single pivot that could potentially be vulnerable after turnovers.

Lalo Delgado, GK: Though advanced stats like goals prevented (where Delgado is four goals underwater over the last two years) paint a certain picture, the former NoCo goalkeeper is undeniably one of League One’s best. 75% of that xG underperformance came against hard-to-stop counters anyway. Between consistently top-of-the-pile long passing accuracy and a very strong read in the box – especially against set pieces – Delgado is a true backstop for Naples.

Jake Dengler, CB: A 2022 title winner alongside Heckenberg with Tormenta, Dengler has won nearly 300 duels across 6,000 minutes of bang-up defensive play over the last three years. Naples has acquired numerous adventurous left-footed options to pair with Dengler’s more staid profile, which is exactly the sort of roster-building choice that’ll forge a reliable back line.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

Unlike many of the new coaches joining League One this winter, Matt Poland’s prior teams have tape to examine. Of course, the style is going to evolve as Poland moves up from the semi-pros, but Chicago House’s 2024 system is portentous nonetheless.

Measuring that sample against the build of this squad, it seems that Naples will employ a 4-2-3-1 as their baseline shape. Poland’s teams often flexed into a 4-1-4-1 when they possessed, using a shuttling No. 8 to drift ahead and help create overloads. It’s easy to imagine either Marc Torrellas or Julian Cisneros, two Loyola Chicago grads that the new manager likely will’ve scouted in person, filling that job between Chris Heckenberg and Luka Prpa.

Prpa, who put up 77th percentile xA in Next Pro last season and scored nine goals in two seasons with Chicago Fire II – sensing a trend? – is very good when he can receive on the turn in the channels. Can he be Naples’ through ball maestro? Time will tell, but Prpa will have the chance to grow into that role. Expect Naples’ wingers to make daring runs in possession and attempt to cut out weak-side passing lanes in the press.

Naples’ defense is their surest positional group. Jake Dengler is as good a stay-at-home center back as you can get at this level. Brecc Evans brings a bit more adventurism to his left, though his spot suddenly got competitive with the later-breaking addition of Gustavo Fernandes. Both Evans and Fernandes are trophy winners in League One, and both are confident tacklers with solid line-breaking passing in their arsenals. Put the excellent Lalo Delgado behind them, and you’ve got one of the most trustworthy defensive cores in the division.

If Naples’ back half feels like a sure thing, their ability to exceed expectations will ride on the forward line coming good. Jayden Onen can be a useful creator, but he’s not a legit finisher. Sebastian Joffre has potential, but he only scored three times in MLS Next Pro last year. There’s a chance the ex-Indiana Hoosier contingent of Karsen Henderlong and Justin Weiss emerges – I loved Henderlong’s game coming out of the NCAA, and Weiss put up 0.34 xG per match last year on a 20% conversion rate – but you wouldn’t bet your life on it.

Defense wins championships, as they say, but does it also guarantee playoff appearances? Naples will be a test case, at least until they find their attacking rhythm.

11.) Portland

Major Signings

Bobby Murphy, MGR: Murphy spent two years running St. Louis City’s MLS Next Pro affiliate, where he carved out a reputation for valuing press-wrought control over pretty possession. If you’re familiar with Bob Lilley’s modus operandi up in the Championship, it’s not all that different in a spiritual sense. His roster in Maine skews young, but the developmental experience that come with a Next Pro job should ease that burden.

Ollie Wright, AM: Wright put up 94th percentile xA in Huntsville last season, and he did so while ranking in the 92nd percentile for vertical progressivity among attacking players. In other words, the 25-year-old knows how to drive at defenses as a passer. In a Portland group without many bona fide forwards and wingers, Wright could be a vital presence.

Michel Poon-Angeron, CM: With 16 caps and counting for Trinidad & Tobago, Poon-Angeron is the most internationally tenured Hearts of Pine player, and that experience beyond his 23 years should make the midfielder an anchor in Portland’s spine. The club’s first-ever signing, Poon-Angeron has been a preseason staple and projects as a nailed-on starter where most other positions seem competitive.

Colby Quinones, LB/RB: A 21-year-old with double-digit caps for Puerto Rico, Quinones worked his way up through the New England Revolution academy to their MLS Next Pro (and formerly League One!) side before decamping to Maine. His versatility is key: Quinones split time relatively evenly between the left and right last season.

Jaden Jones-Reilly, RB: With 34 chances created and more than a successful take-on per game over the last two seasons with Timbers 2, Jones-Reilly is a solid right back and – absolutely crucially – the only Portland-to-Portland mover on the roster. He’ll at least be in competition for the starting right back role.

Sean Vinberg, CB: Having spent most of his career overseas, Vinberg returned stateside last year only to befall the horror of playing for Central Valley. The defender posted 83rd percentile marks for takeaways and tackle win rate all the while, and he’s Portland’s only League One carryover in the back line.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

Bobby Murphy is the leading stylist among League One’s 2025 managerial class. While it’s not a guarantee that he’ll carry over the direct, pressureful system that set his St. Louis teams apart, maintaining that philosophy would immediately make Portland unique in League One.

No returning club went long from the back on a majority of their attempts last year; Murphy’s St. Louis did. His Hearts of Pine have signed a goalkeeper in ex-Cincinnati man Hunter Morse whose average pass traveled 25 yards upfield, the sixth-longest among Next Pro starters. The portents of directness don’t mean that Murphy-ball will be uncontrolled: a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 shape that’s built to be aggressive will allow Hearts of Pine to go long and keep their opponents pinned.

For the system to click, Portland needs a few things to go right. Michel Poon-Angeron must emerge as a ball-winner in the midfield, for one. Ditto for Patrick Langlois, who made just 3.7 recoveries (28th percentile) and won 0.8 tackles (22nd percentile) in a NoCo team that tended to play direct. It’s easy to imagine the Portland shape compacting upfield – think about forward/winger/center mid trios swarming to the ball – and making Hearts of Pine formidable, but the chemistry to pull it off is far from guaranteed on day one.

Portland is shockingly young up top, where all three of their most natural strikers are recent college grads. You can watch highlight tape of, say, Titus Washington and come away impressed with his read of space in the channels and his body manipulation to open shooting angles, but can he lead the line in League One? Evan Southern put up 94th percentile xA at James Madison, but his xG per shot was below average. The No. 9 spot is a big question.

The back line is far more veteran, with Shandon Wright boasting of good NISA experience and Sean Vinberg having been a Fuego man last season, though it’s short on the star power that other expansion clubs have gone for this winter. That tendency – go younger, go local, seek out diamonds in the rough – defined most of Portland’s business, and it’s not a bad thing.

Given how strong and clear-minded of a manager that Bobby Murphy is, Hearts of Pine won’t be bad. I ultimately can’t convince myself that they’ll be good, either, even if they’re blowing out the rest of the expansion pack when it comes to branding and community engagement.

12.) Richmond

Major Signings

Darwin Espinal, ST: NISA’s all-time leading scorer with experience across the lower leagues, Espinal is a pure finisher that put up 34 goals in 60 games in everybody’s favorite dumpster-fire league. Don’t let the NISA tenure dissuade you; operations aside, that division has generated tons of USL talent in recent years. The 30-year-old Espinal actually scored against Richmond in last year’s Open Cup, and he’ll get a chance to keep proving that quality at City Stadium throughout 2025.

Nils Seufert, CM: Though he hasn’t played more than 1,000 minutes in a season since the 2018-2019 campaign in the 2. Bundesliga, Seufert put up a stellar 1.4 chances created and 6.9 recoveries per game back then. The 28-year-old ought to bring a driving impetus to the Richmond midfield, provided that he can nail down consistent time.

Matt Bolduc, RW: Already boasting more than 100 Kickers appearances on his resume, Bolduc played a year in NISA before his return to Richmond this winter. At his peak, Bolduc was a real weapon on the right side, exceeding two successful dribbles per 90 minutes and doing wonders to stretch opposing back lines.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

One of League One’s top clubs in terms of passes per game and possession, Richmond has almost always been a four-at-the-back unit under Darren Sawatzky. Given that as many as nine opening day starters may be returning players, that won’t change in 2025.

Still, the Kickers have done more than just modernize their badge this winter. Darwin Espinal brings proven finishing, crucial for a team whose leading scorers in league play (Chandler O’Dwyer and Adrian Billhardt) topped out with half-a-dozen goals. Whether used on the wing or as a crafty partner to Emiliano Terzaghi, Espinal is sure to make an impact. Other new faces like Melvin Pierre-Louis and Matt Bolduc could contribute in place of O’Dwyer or Billhardt, breaking down set defenses in the final third on the dribble in a manner that was rare in 2024. Richmond has newfound variety.

Admittedly, the attacking group feels overstuffed given the relative lack of changes elsewhere on the pitch. Nils Seufert is promising in central midfield, but can fill enormous shoes as Nil Vinyals’ replacement? (Also, why are we not commenting more on the “Nils replacing Nil” thing?) Seufert may well be a star in the making, but signing just one center mid with pro experience is a bold call.

The choice of partner for Seufert is another fascinating point. James Vaughan is steady in the pivot, but we saw Sawatzky use Dakota Barnathan as a No. 6 quite often to end last season. Either could start, though Barnathan (1.4 interceptions per game, 90% passing accuracy in his own half) is a thorny choice in that he’s also Richmond’s best center back. Yeah, Klaidi Cela can fill the left-sided role, but there aren’t easy answers no matter what Richmond opts for.

The Kickers need their young stars to calcify into consistent, year-long bedrocks in defense. Griffin Garnett ought to be a solid starter yet again and is up to the task after making 19 league starts last year. Goalkeeper James Sneddon, meanwhile, earned a full pro deal this winter after his strong finish to 2024 and projects as the starting goalie as a 19-year-old. I love both of their games, but it’s still surprising that Richmond goes almost 10-deep in their front four with so few defensive additions to supplement the kids.

Will it come together? Richmond posted a plus-0.14 xG margin per match last season and made the playoffs, but it took a late charge to get there. League One has only improved this winter, meaning that the stand-pat Kickers may have their work cut out for them.

13.) Texoma

Major Signings

Adrian Forbes, MGR: The only League One hire this winter without domestic experience, Forbes held various roles at Norwich City before becoming Luton Town’s head of development in 2019. Both the head coach and sporting director for Texoma, Forbes has put together a rather star-studded squad, and he’ll surely be key in establishing his club’s youth pipeline in the years to come.

Solomon Asante, AM: I mean, Solomon Asante is the greatest player in USL history. What more is there to say? Though he isn’t the volume scorer that lit up the Championship in Phoenix, Asante has gracefully evolved into a more service-focused winger that can hold down either flank and provide veteran leadership in the process.

Preston Kilwien, CB: One of League One’s best left-footed initiators from the back, Kilwien has proven himself to be a top-level defender across levels over the years. The 28-year-old was dribbled past less than once every three games with Tormenta last season, and he also completed more than three long balls per game on an overall 85% accuracy. That two-way efficiency will be critical for Texoma, as will Kilwien’s experience playing in back three systems with South Georgia and Pittsburgh in the paste.

Jorge Corrales, LB/CB: A long-time standout across MLS and USL Championship stops, Corrales was a rare bright spot for a bad Lexington team last season. He posted 3.4 takeaways per match in Lexington, which is a huge total. The Cuban international, much like Kilwien, is an excellent left-footed distributor, and he could play as a left back or center back under Forbes depending on Texoma’s ultimate shape.

Ajmeer Spengler, AM: If you’re a hack soccer writer like me, your default adjective for a tricky dribbler is “mazy.” Ajmeer Spengler earns that title. The rookie’s time fell of late in 2024, but he still put up five goal contributions in merely 1,200 league minutes while beating opponents on the dribble a sterling 2.3 times per game.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

If you’re grading teams off the name-brand value of their top few players, Texoma looks like a juggernaut. Solomon Asante, Preston Kilwien, and Jorge Corrales have done a job in the Championship. Ajmeer Spengler was one of League One’s top rookies in 2024. The onus will be on manager Adrian Forbes to get the best out of the stars while blending their skills with a slew of less proven pieces.

Given the make-up of the defensive group, Forbes’ side could run a basic 4-2-3-1 or decide to be more unique. You can imagine Corrales operating as a left back while Texoma defends, only to slide narrower in a possessive back three; Will Perkins would then push up like a winger as a complement. Why would that system work? While Corrales has the ability to get up and down the sideline, his one-on-one defending and left-footed progression up the channel might be his best traits. Moreover, a hypothetical 3-2-5 would do wonders to activate Texoma’s forward corps.

No matter the shape – and I’m leaning toward a straight 3-4-3, gun to my head – the ability to engage that deep group of attackers will be crucial. Spengler, for one, was excellent at receiving between the lines and going at opponents on the dribble while with Tormenta. Asante still has some gas left in the tank when he can isolate on the wing. Striker Diego Pepi put up 1.2 dribbles and 6.0 touches in the opposing box per match with North Texas last season. The entire trio oozes with upside.

Still, there are concerns. A left-side platoon of Donald Benamna and Lamin Jawneh at wing back may be defensively disastrous; that alone might force Forbes’ hand into using Corrales as a traditional left back. I’m not sold on a midfield that’s short on USL experience, though Angelo Calfo was promising with Flower City in NISA and could ably cover as a No. 6 or central defender. Still, the pivot is wildly thin.

Striker is also a question mark. Brandon McManus (beyond sharing a name with an NFL kicker) is the most traditional No. 9 in the squad, but his numbers were more “good” than “great” at Louisville in the NCAA ranks. More help is on the way, but Texoma doesn’t have a guaranteed finisher. Forbes may need to massage this group into a hydra-like unit that sources goals from all over the pitch.

At best, Texoma is a playoff team. At worst, they could be looking at a relatively significant rebuild heading into year two, especially given the age of some core pieces and the unproven nature of most others. Few League One clubs feel as variable.

14.) Chattanooga

Major Signings

Eric Kinzner, CB: A former standout with Rio Grande Valley that spent 2024 under now-Portland coach Bobby Murphy in St. Louis, Kinzner brings strong one-on-one skills and an adventurous streak on the ball to Chattanooga. He’s likely to start the lion’s share of the Red Wolves' games on the left side of the back three.

Matt Bentley, AM/FW: Good for 10 contributions across all competitions with Richmond in 2022, Bentley has mostly been used as a right winger during his prior years in League One. The work rate stood out just as much as the attacking flair back in his Kickers days, meaning that Bentley ought to bring two-way improvement in Chattanooga.

Greyson Mercer, ST: Listed at 6’2” and 201 pounds while in college at Western Michigan and Michigan State, Mercer brings size in spades. He hit career highs in goals and assists to tally 13 total contributions in his final college season, including a brace over eventual champions Vermont.

Projected Depth Chart

How They’ll Look

The Red Wolves got raided this offseason. You can make that casual declaration about a few League One teams every winter – selling upward is a division-wide regularity – but it’s markedly true about Chattanooga entering 2025. Scott Mackenzie’s returning players scored three league goals last year; their exiting group combined for 23. There’s a remarkable overhaul in the works by necessity.

Still, Chattanooga was already staring down the barrel of a rebuild because of their defensive woes from 2024. The Red Wolves allowed a shocking 2.2 xG per match, conceded five set piece goals more than any other returning team. Between the back-end faults and a minimal 43% possession average, Chattanooga rarely brandished any control.

Mackenzie seems set to run back 2024’s back three shape, but a number of new faces ought to make his Red Wolves stronger and more agile where it counts. Eric Kinzner leads the pack; still just 21 years old, he’s a coup of a signing that can do wonders on the left side of the defense. Kinzner won 1.4 tackles a game last year with a 76% success rate, and he also won 85% of his aerial duels while still flexing high-end athleticism for his position. His ability to form two-way chemistry with experienced Championship left back Jordan Ayimbilia will be an early barometer as to Chattanooga’s improvements – or lack thereof.

Kimball Jackson isn’t as sure a thing on loan from Lexington, but his ability to cover right back and center back should see him in the squad with regularity. He’s yet more evidence of the defensive rethink – though the Red Wolves did opt to run back a pivot of Ualefi and Michael Knapp that’s probably “competent” without much unexplored upside.

Chattanooga’s forward lines are a question mark at best. Do I like Matt Bentley? Sure. Is Jonathan Filipe capable of re-capturing a 2023 season where he created more than two chances a game? I think so! Rookie Greyson Mercer isn’t entirely confidence-inspiring between them despite his strong fundamentals. It’s undeniable that the Red Wolves have failed to replace their attacking stars.

I don’t wish ill on any team in the USL, but I have a hard time making a case for the Red Wolves. Their bad defense is going to be marginally better, but the additions everywhere else on the pitch are entirely too slight.