Nashville SC’s academy will begin competitive play for their inaugural season in MLS NEXT. The club will field U-13, U-14, U-15 and U-17 sides for the 2021 season as the club begins to develop homegrown talent to eventually supplement their senior roster. From the press release:
Nashville Soccer Club’s Youth Academy will begin play in their inaugural season in MLS NEXT with the 2021-22 campaign set to kickoff this weekend as the U-15 and U-17 side will take on Inter Miami CF’s Youth Academy.
Under the guidance of Jamie Smith, Nashville SC’s Technical Director, Nashville SC’s Youth Academy will participate in MLS NEXT a new paradigm for player development, launched in 2020 to transform youth soccer in North America.
Founded on a collaborative approach to governance and a commitment to innovation, MLS NEXT players have access to the highest level of competition, training and personal development opportunities that will prepare them for their futures, both in soccer and in life. Current membership includes 134 clubs, 590 teams and over 12,000 players across the U.S. and Canada.
“Jamie and his staff have worked so hard over the past year to prepare these players for the start of the MLS Next campaign, and we are excited to see the next generation of the Boys in Gold in action this weekend versus Inter Miami.” Nashville SC General Manager Mike Jacobs.
Smith brings a wealth of experience to Nashville SC’s Academy, both as a professional player for 14 years and a coach, having served as Academy Director and launched several Academy programs throughout the United States.
As Nashville SC Academy Director, Smith oversees the technical aspects of the Academy including player identification, curriculum, staff development, leadership and more.
Nashville announced Jamie Smith as their academy director in October 2019, and the upcoming MLS NEXT season will be the first tangible look at the on-field product he’s produced. Smith has assembled a group of four teams, largely with players from the Middle Tennessee area.
U-13 Squad
Coach – Kosuke Kimura
Player | Position | Former Club | City | State |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aiden Byasiima | Midfielder | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Aiden Suarez | Forward | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Andre Krikorian | Midfielder | Barca Academy Nashville | Nashville | TN |
Bastian Swartz | Forward | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Bennett Smith | Midfielder | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Brennan Skrzyniarz | Defender | Michigan Wolves | Livonia | MI |
Cash Daniels | Forward | Tennessee United Soccer Club | Hendersonville | TN |
Cooper Elliott | Midfielder | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Elijah Musoke | Midfielder | North Alabama Soccer Club | Huntsville | AL |
Emmanuel Arias | Goalkeeper | Stones River Soccer Club | Smyrna | TN |
Finley Cochran | Defender | Tennessee United Soccer Club | Hendersonville | TN |
Giovanni Nava | Forward | Barca Academy Nashville | Nashville | TN |
Henry Rasmussen | Defender | NUSA | Nashville | TN |
Jack McDonough | Defender | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Johan Padilla | Defender | Barca Academy Nashville | Nashville | TN |
Jonathan Hernandez | Midfielder | Stones River Soccer Club | Smyrna | TN |
Juan Sebastian Diaz | Goalkeeper | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Lawson Willis | Midfielder | Tennessee United Soccer Club | Hendersonville | TN |
Liam Devan | Defender | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Liston Miles | Defender | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Mario Najera | Defender | Stones River Soccer Club | Smyrna | TN |
Owen Sharp | Goalkeeper | Tennessee United Soccer Club | Hendersonville | TN |
Trystan Salome | Forward | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Tucker Thompson | Forward | Memphis FC | Memphis | TN |
U-14 Team
Coach – Alan O’Connor
Player | Position | Former Club | City | State |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ace Davis | Forward | Louisiana Fire | New Orleans | LA |
Brendan Medina | Midfielder | Barca Academy Nashville | Nashville | TN |
Cais Lam | Midfielder | FC Alliance | Knoxville | TN |
Caleb Salenda | Forward | Chattanooga FC Academy | Chattanooga | TN |
Callahan Correnti | Midfielder | Nashville United Soccer Academy | Nashville | TN |
Carter Phonhasackd | Defender | Aris FC | Nolensville | TN |
Charly Dealmonte | Defender | Inter Soccer Club | Nashville | TN |
Garrett Loyd | Defender | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Gracen Adams | Forward | Germantown Legends | Nashville | TN |
Harrison O’Dell | Goalkeeper | FC Alliance | Knoxville | TN |
Jashanvir Shergill | Midfielder | Indiana Fire | Westfield | IN |
Jax Benton | Midfielder | Javanon FC | Louisville | KY |
Justin Shergill | Midfielder | Pride FC | Hillard | OH |
Kai Yandall | Goalkeeper | Murfreesboro Strikers | Murfreesboro | TN |
Luke Mullvain | Midfielder | Barca Academy Nashville | Nashville | TN |
Nathan Krall | Forward | Tennessee United Soccer Club | Hendersonville | TN |
Owen Bland | Defender | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Paxton Bearden | Midfielder | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Ryan Buie | Defender | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Zain Abdelhadi | Defender | Barca Academy Nashville | Nashville | TN |
U-15 Team
Coach – Kyle Roelke
Player | Position | Former Club | City | State |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aimar Lopez | Forward | Inter Soccer Club | Nashville | TN |
Alex Feliz | Midfielder | Nashville United Soccer Academy | Nashville | TN |
Ammar Delic | Goalkeeper | BG Elite | Bowling Green | KY |
Cesar Soucre | Midfielder | Tennessee United | Hendersonville | TN |
Dawson Moonshower | Midfielder | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Diego Ojeda | Forward | Huntsville Soccer Club | Huntsville | AL |
Frank Manrod | Defender | Emerald Force | Knoxville | TN |
Jack Tucker | Forward | Knoxville Crush FC | Knoxville | TN |
Jan Segura | Midfielder | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Chattanooga | TN |
Jonathan Hernandez | Midfielder | Clarksville Soccer Club | Clarksville | TN |
Leo Santos | Midfielder | Emerald Force | Knoxville | TN |
Mason Murphy | Goalkeeper | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Ryan MacClary | Defender | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Samuel Byron | Forward | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Chattanooga | TN |
Scott Cheevers | Defender | NUSA | Nashville | TN |
Shun Murasawa | Defender | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Tommy Thang | Forward | Inter Soccer Club | Nashville | TN |
Tristan Tropeano | Midfielder | Vestavia Soccer Club | Vestiva Hills | AL |
U-17 Team
Coach – Kyle Flanagan
Player | Position | Former Club | City | State |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adam Leonard | Goalkeeper | FC Alliance | Knoxville | TN |
Adem Sipic | Forward | Bowling Green Elite | Bowling Green | KY |
Alejandro Carrillo | Defender | NUSA | Nashville | TN |
Alejandro Sandoval | Midfielder | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Alejandro Velazquez | Midfielder | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Chattanooga | TN |
Andrei Jahic | Forward | BG Elite FC | Bowling Green | KY |
Andrew Dunn | Defender | Lobos Premier | Memphis | TN |
Andy Ramos | Defender | Germantown Legends | Memphis | TN |
Ashton Flowers | Defender | Nashville United Soccer Club | Nashville | TN |
Brendan French | Defender | Germantown Legends | Memphis | TN |
Cannon Scretchen | Midfielder | NUSA | Nashville | TN |
Connor MacLean | Midfielder | TUSC | Hendersonville | TN |
Dillon Sims | Forward | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Chattanooga | TN |
Eli Jackson | Midfielder | Chattanooga Red Wolves | Chattanooga | TN |
Hayden Pendergrass | Midfielder | Knoxville FC | Knoxville | TN |
Jack Elliott | Midfielder | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Jak Kemp | Midfielder | TUSC | Hendersonville | TN |
Jake Grecowicz | Goalkeeper | Michigan Lightning | Rochester | MI |
Joshua Nwokeji | Forward | Memphis Lobos Rush | Memphis | TN |
Judah Jones | Forward | Grace Christian Academy | Knoxville | TN |
Justin Cox | Goalkeeper | Germantown Legends | Memphis | TN |
Leo Gamboa | Forward | Solar Soccer Club | Dallas | TX |
Lucas Wolthers | Forward | Tennessee United Soccer Club | Hendersonville | TN |
Mekhi Stewart | Defender | FC Alliance | Knoxville | TN |
Nick Dyer | Defender | Germantown Legends | Memphis | TN |
Noah Clement | Goalkeeper | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
Travis Fowler | Defender | Tennessee Soccer Club | Franklin | TN |
William Sorto Garcia | Defender | Music City FC | Nashville | TN |
Of the 90 players on academy teams, 91% come from Tennessee, with 14 players brought from out of state areas. 52 players hail from the Middle Tennessee area. Tennessee Soccer Club is the highest representative, with 22 players coming from their system.
Nashville SC’s full MLS NEXT schedule can be viewed here.
