Welcome to another edition of the League One Updater power rankings! Preseason is in full swing, with several scrimmages in the books.
As rosters mostly fall into place, we’re going a bit different on our summaries this week. For each club, we’ve identified a “wild card,” the player who’s success in 2023 could propel the club to the next level.
Note: all additions and departures are since the last ranking.
1) North Carolina FC
Last week: 1
Key additions: none
Key departures: none
Goalkeepers: Nick Holliday, Tor Saunders
Defenders: DJ Benton, Luke Croll, Gustavo Fernandes, Britton Fisher, Max Flick, Nelson Flores, Daniel Navarro, Christian Lue Young
Midfielders: Luis Arriaga, Mikey Maldonado, Pecka, Louis Perez, Raheem Somersall, Jaden Servania
Forwards: Shak Adams, Oalex Anderson, Cole Frame, Marvin Mariche, Garrett McLaughlin, Rafa Mentzingen, Preston Popp
Preseason: University of North Carolina (1-1), One Knoxville SC, NYCFC II, Charleston Battery, Columbus Crew 2, Loudoun United, Charlotte Independence
First regular season match: vs. Tormenta FC, 3/17
WILD CARD: Rafa Mentzingen 🇧🇷
The 26 year old Brazilian forward had his second breakout year in Chattanooga last season, after having his first in 2019 with Lansing Ignite. Between this time, he spent the shortened 2020 season with USL Championship side Memphis 901, where he had 3 goals in 13 appearances, but was not renewed for another season. He returned to USL League One, signing with Red Wolves SC. The 2021 season was beset by injuries, but the club had faith in his potential, picking up his 2022 option. That paid off, when he ended the year with 6 goals and 4 assists, and then added another 2 key goals in the playoffs.
Presumably, NCFC targeted Mentzingen in free agency to bring that energy to a club in desperate need of it. Continuing that momentum built in 2022 as he heads into what should be his physical peak will be key to NCFC turning around and going from worst to at the very least, a playoff spot.
But the key to NCFC being number one in these rankings? They’re so deep that they would probably remain a contender even if Rafa had a down year. But another career season? They might be unstoppable.
2) Tormenta FC
Last week: 3
Key additions: John Murphy Jr
Key departures: Alex Morrell
Goalkeepers: TJ Bush, Pablo Jara
Defenders: Nick Akoto, Jake Dengler, Preston Kilwien, Colin Mocyunas, John Murphy Jr, Deshawon Nembhard
Midfielders: Mukwelle Akale, Elijah Amo, Matheus Cassini, Pedro Fonseca, Chris Heckenberg, Jackson Khoury, Tobias Otieno
Forwards: Kingsford Adjei, Arthur Bosua, Kazaiah Sterling
Preseason: Georgia Southern University (0-0), Georgia State University, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Charleston Battery, Stetson University
First regular season match: at North Carolina FC, 3/17
WILD CARD: Elijah Amo 🇺🇸
The one time Real Salt Lake draft pick seemed to come into his own last year with Maryland Bobcats FC of NISA. He put up 5 goals and 4 assists over 19 appearances, gaining the attention of USL League One. He’ll join a high powered Tormenta side looking to replace one of its major pieces from 2022, Adrian Billhardt. Up front, he’ll be competing for minutes from the likes of Kingsford Adjei, Arthur Bosua, Matheus Cassini and Pedro Fonseca. If Amo has a breakout year and Tormenta maintains this kind of depth, they may be the first repeating champions in the league.
Read More: Player Profile: Elijah Amo (Protagonist Soccer)
3) Greenville Triumph
Last week: 2
Key additions: none
Key departures: none
Goalkeepers: Ben Hale, Jared Mazzola
Defenders: Noah Franke, Brandon Fricke, Evan Lee, Tyler Polak, Nate Shultz, Jamie Smith, Daniel Wu
Midfielders: Devin Boyce, Lucas Coutinho, Venton Evans, Allen Gavilanes, Noah Pilato, Tevin Shaw, Aaron Walker
Forwards: Jacob Labovitz, Alex Cox-Ashwood
Preseason: Charlotte Independence, Anderson University, Atlanta United 2, Crown Legacy
First regular season match: vs. Richmond Kickers, 3/25
WILD CARD: Jacob Labovitz 🇺🇸
In 2021, Jacob Labovitz wrapped up his NCAA career with Virginia Tech, and prior to the 2022 season, signed with one of the top clubs in USL League One, Greenville Triumph. The club lost Marios Lomis, its top scorer from 2021, with no real replacement ready to step up from the remaining roster. Enter the first time pro, who stepped in and scored 11 goals by July 30th, and then went cold.
The obvious question here is, can he do it again, and sustain it for the entire season? The club seems to think so, having not added any other significant goal scorers for 2023. It took the next three goal scorers (Evans, Walker, Gavilanes) combined to top Labovitz’s goals in 2022, which ended up at 12 when he finally notched the last one ten matches after the 11th.
The good news for the club is almost everyone who fed him assists is back. But let’s suppose he goes cold again, has defenders figure him out, or he suffers an injury? Is that it for Greenville? Or could someone else step up? Seems they have a lot riding on him.
4) One Knoxville SC
Last week: 4
Key additions: none
Key departures: none
Goalkeepers: Sean Lewis, Peter Swinkels
Defenders: Gabriel Claudio, Jalen Crisler, Dani Fernandez, Jan-Erik Leinhos, Kyle McDowell, Sean O’Hearn, Jordan Skelton, James Thomas, Derek Waldeck
Midfielders: Sam Fletcher, Callum Johnson, Angelo Kelly-Rosales, Frank Ross, Yesin van der Pluijm
Forwards: Sebastian Andreassen, Ilija Ilic, Jake Keegan, Ahinga Selemani, Jimmie Villalobos, Matthew Vowinkel
Preseason: North Carolina FC, Louisville City, Atlanta United II, Chattanooga FC, Columbus Crew II
First regular season match: vs. Lexington SC, 3/18
WILD CARD: Seba Andreassen 🇳🇴
The first time pro striker joins USL League One from his club’s former USL League Two side, where he put up nine goals in 2022. The fans absolutely love the guy.
Practicing alongside veterans such as Ilija Ilič, Jake Keegan, Ahinga Selemani and Jimmie Villalobos, he’ll certainly have to earn his minutes. But what the 25 year old lacks in professional experience, he makes up for in size and speed. If the 6’4″ Norwegian finds his way in USL1, and manages clutch goals off the bench, One Knox could find itself near the top of the table, and Andreassen could find himself in the starting XI.
5) Union Omaha
Last week: 7
Key additions: Sebastian Sanchez (loan), Steevan Dos Santos
Key departures: none
Goalkeepers: Rashid Nuhu
Defenders: Shaft Brewer, Jr., Luca Mastrantonio, Marco Milanese, Stefan Muller, Junior Palacios
Midfielders: Dion Acoff, Joe Brito, Conor Doyle, Yoskar Galván-Mercado, Luis Gil, Eddie Gordon, JP Scearce, Chavany Willis
Forwards: Steeven Dos Santos, Noe Meza
Preseason: Sporting Kansas City II, FC Tulsa, University of Tulsa, Creighton University, Iowa Western Community College, University of Nebraska Omaha, Iowa Western Community College, Bellevue University, St Louis City 2
First regular season match: vs. Forward Madison, 3/26
WILD CARD: Steeven Dos Santos 🇨🇻
Union Omaha needs to score more goals. The defense was solid in 2022, and remains solid coming into 2023. But defense just doesn’t win playoff games without some sort of offensive firepower. The 2022 side had a +1 goal differential, and quickly bowed out of the playoffs in the first round with a 1-0 loss to the high flying Red Wolves.
Enter Steeven Dos Santos, a proven goal scorer from USL Championship. Alongside Noe Meza, the Owls’ front line went from meh to whoa with the stroke of a pen. However, Dos Santos is 33, and possibly in the twilight of his career. The wild card here – can he remain healthy through enough matches to make an offensive impact? If so, Union Omaha will be right back in the playoff mix as if they never left. If not, they could quickly head in the other direction, as other clubs around them have also beefed up their front lines.
Read More: Union Omaha Sign Two More (Who Gives a Hoot)
6) Forward Madison
Last week: 6
Key additions: Eric Conerty, Bernd Schipmann
Key departures: Cyrus Rad
Goalkeepers: Bernd Schipmann
Defenders: Sam Brotherton, Jacob Crull, Timmy Mehl, Mitch Osmond, Stephen Payne
Midfielders: Eric Conerty, Aiden Mesias, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Jayden Onen
Forwards: Nazeem Bartman, Christian Chaney, Mauro Cichero, Dererk Gebhard, Francis Jno-Baptiste
Preseason: Minnesota United FC 2, Chicago Fire II, Indy Eleven, DePaul University
First regular season match: at Union Omaha, 3/26
WILD CARD: Francis Jno-Baptiste 🏴
With Forward Madison, we could go with the obvious answer in Christian Chaney, a proven goal scorer who joins a club that has never really had one. But let’s assume Chaney remains in peak form and does become the first Mingo to put up 10+ goals. How can Madison truly rocket into the next level and ensure that the club is a contender for the first time ever? Enter Francis Jno-Baptiste.
Jno-Baptiste is a low risk signing for Forward Madison. He’s still young, at 23, but comes with academy experience with Crystal Palace and two seasons in the top flight in Sweden. He appears to have struggled to find a place back in England in 2022. If all of this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s similar to Kazaiah Sterling’s journey to USL1. So is Jno-Baptiste the next Sterling? Probably not. But let’s say he does find his place at Madison and contributes another 8+ goals on top of Chaney’s 10+? Forward Madison is going places.
7) Hailstorm FC
Last week: 8
Key additions: Arthur Rogers (re-signed), Ryan Wittenbrink
Key departures: none
Goalkeepers: Edward Delgado, Johan Peñaranda
Defenders: Rob Cornwall, Brecc Evans, Leo Folla, Lucky Opara, Arthur Rogers
Midfielders: McCain Clarke, Jackson Dietrich, Enock Kwakwa, Stefan Lukic, Destan Norman, Nortei Nortey
Forwards: Trevor Amann, Mark Hernandez, Billy King, Irvin Parra, Valentin Sabella, Ryan Wittenbrink
Preseason: Harpos FC (4-0), Colorado Springs Switchbacks, University of Denver, Peak XI FC, UC Colorado Springs, Colorado Rapids 2, CSU Pueblo
First regular season match: at Red Wolves SC, 3/25
WILD CARD: Billy King 🏴
On paper, Hailstorm FC was a decent club in a highly competitive league in their first year in existence. They just barely missed out on the playoffs, were 5th in goals scored 3rd best in goals conceded with a respectable +4 goal differential. So what happened? Charlotte Independence squeaked by with one extra win. So the obvious solution? Score more goals and win. Enter Billy King.
The 28 year old winger brings a ton of experience with top clubs in Scotland and Ireland, including Rangers, Heart of Midlothian, Dundee United and most recently, St. Patrick’s Athletic. Bringing King in the mix with Irvin Parra, Arthur Rogers and Trevor Amann should propel Hailstorm FC up a notch or two in the table, if he clicks. If not, the club may be headed for another year where they’re almost in, but not quite.
8) Richmond Kickers
Last week: 5
Key additions: Kharlton Belmar, Chris Cole (re-signed), Jake Mecham
Key departures: Jonathan Bolanos
Ongoing needs: playmaking midfielder
Goalkeepers: Akira Fitzgerald, Will Palmquist
Defenders: Nathan Aune, Dakota Barnathan, Chris Cole, Simon Fitch, Michael Hornsby, Jake Mecham
Midfielders: João Gomiero, Zaca Moran, Chandler O’Dwyer, Justin Sukow, Nil Vinyals
Forwards: Kharlton Belmar, Matt Bentley, Owayne Gordon, David Olsen, Luke Pavone, Emiliano Terzaghi
Preseason: Loudoun United (1-1), Virginia Commonwealth University, DC United, Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University, James Madison University, Crown Legacy FC
First regular season match: at Charlotte Independence, 3/18
WILD CARD: Nil Vinyals 🇪🇸
Nil Vinyals stepped up in 2022 and proved himself as a dynamic midfielder, capable of handling defense, playmaking and scoring goals and providing assists (5G, 5A). He did so playing alongside of three players who are now in MLS systems: Jonathan Bolanos (6G, 11A), Ethan Bryant (3G, 5A) and Stuart Ritchie (1G, 5A). With that talent now gone, and not exactly replaced, is this the year that Vinyals steps up even further and demonstrates that he really can do it all? If yes, Richmond just might return to glory in 2023. Especially considering how forward-heavy the roster suddenly became with the addition of Kharlton Belmar.
9) Red Wolves SC
Last week: 9
Key additions: none
Key departures: none
Goalkeepers: Carlos Avilez, Ricardo Jerez, JD Meyers
Defenders: Nico Cardona, Aaron Lombardi, Manuel Madrid
Midfielders: Josue Cartagena, Christian Enriquez, Moe Espinoza, Pedro Hernandez, Ryley Kraft, Felipe Liborio Jr., Yahir Paez, Ualefi, Walter Varela
Forwards: Mayele Malango, Chevone Marsh, Ropapa Mensah, Alex Tejera
Preseason: Huntsville City FC, Lexington SC, FC Cincinnati 2
First regular season match: vs. Hailstorm FC, 3/15
WILD CARD: Ropapa Mensah 🇬🇭
Ropapa Mensah is due for a comeback. After 25 goals in 107 USL Championship appearances, he spent 2022 in Egypt, nursing injuries. If he remains healthy and returns to form, and clicks with the likes of Moe Espinoza, Mayele Malango, Chevone Marsh and Alex Tejera, we could see another season of Red Wolves charging into the playoffs with a high scoring offense. If not, the club could see yet another rebuild for 2024.
10) Lexington SC
Last week: 10
Key additions: none
Key departures: none
Goalkeepers: Austin Causey, Amal Knight
Defenders: Erick Ceja Gonzalez, Owen Green, Kimball Jackson, Franky Martinez, Terique Mohammed
Midfielders: Phila Dlamini, Kaelon Fox, Diallo Irakoze, Seo-in Kim, Charlie Machell, Pierre Mané, Tate Robertson, Don Smart
Forwards: Khalid Balogun, Will Baynham, Nico Brown, Ates Diouf, Jalen James, Drew Patterson
Preseason: TBD
First regular season match: at One Knoxville, 3/18
WILD CARDS: Will Baynham 🇦🇺 and Ates Diouf 🇸🇳
We had the most trouble coming up with a single wild card for Lexington, because the entire roster is a wild card in and of itself. We simply could not pick one, so we’re going with a tandem: Will Baynham and Ates Diouf. The striker and attacking midfielder respectively both join Lexington SC with huge amounts of potential, but perhaps not quite enough opportunity at the professional level to truly shine. USL League One is exactly where players like this can thrive.
That being said, both have shown flashes of their potential brilliance at higher levels; Baynham in Scottish League Two, with four goals and two assists over 14 appearances, and Diouf with 5 goals and 5 assists over 49 appearances in USL Championship. And while Diouf was a part of the championship winning San Antonio FC squad, he mostly came off the bench when he was in the squad at all. He should be gunning for a redemption season with Lexington SC.
Youth is in their favor here – Baynham is 25 and Diouf is 22. If they find success early on with Lexington SC, not only could they propel the expansion side to a surprising run at the playoffs, but they could have bigger opportunities awaiting.
Read more: Lexington SC Player Profiles at Crane Kicks Lex
11) Charlotte Independence
Last week: 11
Key additions: Carlson Talboys (re-signed)
Key departures: none
Goalkeepers: Austin Pack
Defenders: Hector Acosta, Shalom Dutey, Carson Talboys
Midfielders: Luis Álvarez, Omar Ciss, Clay Dimick, Miguel Ibarra
Forwards: Khori Bennett, Tresor Mbuyu, Gabriel Obertan
Preseason: UNC Charlotte (1-1), Grenville Triumph, Crown Legacy FC, Columbus Crew 2, North Carolina FC
First regular season match: vs. Richmond Kickers, 3/18
WILD CARD: Khori Bennett 🇯🇲
Khori Bennett was a late addition to the Jacks’ roster in 2022, announced on April 24th. Even his announcement was overshadowed by the addition of two MLS loanees at the same time, Koa Santos and Adrian Zendejas. Bennett made one professional appearance with NISA side Philadelphia Fury in 2019 before the club folded, and was without a club until signing with Charlotte Independence.
His is the comeback story USL League One fans love to see – a player given an opportunity, and then thriving. Bennett ended 2022 with 11 goals and 4 assists, forming a dominant, goal scoring tandem with teammate Tresor Mbuyu. It can be safely assumed that without Khori Bennett, this club would not have squeaked into the playoffs in 2022.
But with any player who has a spectacular first season that comes out of nowhere, the wild card for the next season is always – can they do it again? If so, Charlotte may remain in contention.
12) Fuego FC
Last week: 12
Key additions: Ofek Antman (re-signed), Abdul Razak Cromwell, Ozzie Ramos (re-signed)
Key departures: none
Goalkeepers: Ofak Antman, Mitch North
Defenders: Jordan Chavez, Abdul Razak Cromwell, François Dulysse
Midfielders: Diego Casillas, José Carrera-García, Alexis Cerritos, Mouhamed Dabo, David Diaz, Cherif Dieye, Ozzie Ramos
Forwards: Villyan Bijev
Preseason: Andrew Alcocer Academy, Oakland Roots, LA Galaxy II, Sacramento Republic FC, SD Loyal, Loyola Marymount, LAFC 2
First regular season match: vs. North Carolina FC, 3/22
WILD CARD: José Carrera-García 🇲🇽
José Carrera-García was the captain, assists leader and a first-team USL League One All-League member for league runners up Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in 2022. And then at the end of the season, he was one of many who departed the club free agency.
Fuego FC, meanwhile, was an expansion side that finished 8th in the league, but just three points outside of the playoff bubble. And while the club has taken its time in building out a roster, the first move they made was to sign Carrera-García.
This is a tough club to figure out, and like many expansion sides in the lower leagues that aren’t immediately successful and/or popular, there’s always a question of long term viability. The addition of Carrera-García and his willingness to sign with Fuego FC does serve as a beacon of hope for fans and the league, especially given how quickly 2022’s leader Christian Chaney skipped town for Forward Madison. Now we’ll see how impactful his experience and leadership can be here.