Happy New Year, USL League One fans! Over the last month, most clubs have been making 2023 roster announcements, and we now have an idea on their core lineups. We’re also quickly approaching the announcement of the 2023 schedule, and should have some roster announcements coming from the final holdouts, Greenville Triumph and Lexington SC.
Here is our initial 2023 USL League One pre-(pre?)-season power ranking based on roster moves and the resulting strengths and remaining weaknesses.
1) North Carolina FC
Key additions: Rafa Mentzingen, DJ Benton, Daniel Navarro, Preston Popp
Key departures: none confirmed
2023 needs: a better finish than 2022
At first it seemed bizarre that the last place club from 2022 didn’t completely blow up their roster. But they came out of League One Day One with 11 options exercised on top of the five already under contract, with no departures. Over the next couple of weeks, they pulled a few tricks, signing defenders DJ Benton and Daniel Navarro and dynamic forward Rafa Mentzingen, all from league runners up Red Wolves SC. Mentzingen put up eight goals and four assists, and two more goals during the playoff run.
On paper, NCFC should compete for a playoff spot, and we start them at number one in the rankings based on the surgical precision of their signings in meeting their needs. Mentzingen joins 14 goal scorer Garrett McLaughlin and seven goal scorer Oalex Anderson up front, and as long as Benton and Navarro can help shore up a defense that gave up a league worst 53 goals last year, they should be far and away better than 2022.
2) Tormenta FC
Key additions: none
Key departures: Gabriel Cabral, Curtis Thorn
2023 needs: playmaking midfielder, supporting cast
The reigning league champs made some shrewd moves over the last few weeks, turning what could have been a fire sale from a championship-winning small-market club into some core strengthening. Midfielder and 2022 captain Gabriel Cabral transferred to Miami FC of USL Championship and defender Joshua Phelps transferred to Australian club Melbourne Knights FC, both for an undisclosed fee. Meanwhile, defender Curtis Thorn joined Cabral in Miami in free agency.
However, the club has top members of the championship squad on multi-year lockdown, including Kingsford Adjei, Tobias Otieno and almost-golden-boot-winner and playoff MVP Kazaiah Sterling. Returning on options are Arthur Bosua, Jake Dengler, Chris Heckenberg, Deshawon Nembhard and keeper Pablo Jara, all of whom contributed significant minutes towards the championship run. Ian Cameron re-signed as head coach, bringing stability there. Adrian Billhardt is a key player remaining unsigned, but as long as Tormenta FC can support the core with productive contributors, they should be able to make another run.
3) Richmond Kickers
Key additions: João Gomiero (MF), Michael Hornsby (D)
Key departures: Ethan Bryant (MF), Jalen Crisler (D), Stephen Payne (D)
2023 needs: midfielders
The Roos were so good during the 2022 season that they likely had some talent to spare. And spare they did, losing core defenders Stephen Payne and Jalen Crisler to free agency and selling off midfielder and league Young Player of the Year Ethan Bryant. And as of now, they will likely not see the return of league assists leader Jonathan Bolanos who remains an unsigned free agent. Still, they locked down the greatest goal scoring talent USL League One has seen in its short existence, Emiliano Terzaghi, who will be supported by young talent Matt Bentley, veteran Owayne Gordon, and newcomer João Gomiero.
There will be an open question on how Terzaghi performs without Bolanos, with whom he clicked so well in 2022, and if the defense can withstand the loss of Payne and Crisler, even with Goalkeeper of the Year nominee Akira Fitzgerald backing everything up. However, it should be another playoff year in Richmond, even if they may not break their own points record this year.
4) Charlotte Independence
Key additions: none
Key departures: none confirmed
2023 needs: goalkeeping, a supporting squad
The Jacks chose a small core around which to build out the 2023 roster. But that core is a really good one, including 11 goal scoring (each) forwards Khori Bennett and Tresor Mbuyu, a workhorse midfield core of Omar Ciss and Clay Dimick, and defenders Shalom Dutey and Hector Acosta. Of course, this leaves veteran Miguel Ibarra out of the equation. Who will end up supporting this crew?
Goaltending is a big piece to the support puzzle in Charlotte. You can’t run on loans forever. Charlotte saw a cast come through from main starter Adrián Zendejas (Charlotte FC), to short term supporters Dane Jacomen (Loudon United), Derrek Chan (NY Red Bulls II) and Noah Abrams (Miami FC) and the club’s lone signed keeper, Keegan Meyer. Zendejas is likely headed back to the MLS and Meyer announced his retirement, leaving the club keeperless for the time being.
5) Forward Madison
Key additions: Christian Chaney, Jacob Crull, Timmy Mehl, Stephen Payne
Key departures: Eric Leonard
2023 needs: goaltending, midfielders
Promising a rebuild, the Flamingos made a splash right out of the gate on League One Day One, and the next few days after. Hoping to overcome their third playoffs miss in a row, the club signed goal scorer Christian Chaney, and then defensive stars Jacob Crull, Timmy Mehl and Stephen Payne. Nazeem Bartman, Derek Gebhard and Mitch Osmond returned to round out the core. However, the obvious, glaring questions: if this club is truly being rebuilt, who is making plays from the midfield? Who tends goal? A strong, quick start to signings won’t go anywhere without a better supporting cast.
6) Union Omaha
Key additions: none
Key departures: none confirmed
2023 needs: goal scorers and assurance that the defense can be maintained
The Owls were another squad that stuck with a large returning core. However, unlike NCFC, this one actually made the playoffs in 2022, thanks to their notoriously stingy defense. The offense, on the other hand, was rather anemic. This returning group was responsible for 22 of the 34 goals scored, including team leaders Noe Meza (9) and JP Scearce (7). But that may not be enough to carry them to another playoff berth. And what about that defense? Young standout Ryen Jiba may or may not return, depending on any deal the club works out with Minnesota United FC, who drafted his MLS rights. Lead defender Daltyn Knutson and two-way veteran midfielder Connor Doyle have yet to be signed. And again, where are the goals going to come from?
7) Hailstorm FC
Key additions: none
Key departures: Lachlan McLean
2023 needs: playmaking midfielders
The 2022 expansion side with an unstable stadium situation still barely missed the playoffs. While the stadium situation may be resolved at some point in 2023, what about the squad? First, they announced those who were not returning, most notable among them, Lachlan McLean. Then they announced a returning core of Irvin Parra (11 goals, 5 assists), Trevor Amann (5 goals, 4 assists), as well as midfielders Jackson Dietrich, Stefan Lukic, Destan Norman, defenders Rob Cornwall and Brecc Evans and goalkeeper Johan Peñaranda. Left out of either decision: league defender of the year and team assists leader Arthur Rogers. While the club can probably survive without McLean, the loss of Rogers would be a huge hole in the midfield, and a likely barrier to playoff contention.
8) Fuego FC
Key additions: José Carrera-García
Key departures: Christian Chaney, Michael Hornsby
2023 needs: goal scoring
Forward Madison dealt a huge blow when they scooped up lead goal scorer Christian Chaney on League One Day One. To make matters worse, midfielder Victor Falck’s status is currently unsigned. Fuego FC did bring in José Carrera-García as a possible replacement there, and optioned Cherif Dieye to remain along with Villyan Bijev’s multi-year contract. But this is a club that desperately needs a goal scorer, having already only scored 37 in 2022. So far, things are not looking great.
9) Red Wolves SC
Key additions: none
Key departures: DJ Benton, Daniel Navarro, Rafa Mentzingen, Timmy Mehl, Jose Carrera-Garcia
2023 needs: goal scorers
After a magical run to the league finals, it’s been a rough off-season for Red Wolves fans. First, the positive: the club optioned goalkeeper Carlos Avilez, defensive mainstays Nico Cardona and Aaron Lombardi and rising star midfielder Moe Espinoza. They re-signed Alex Tejera and veteran Ualefi. And the coaching situation is stabilized.
But the club also lost a massive part of its 2022 core, all in free agency. Defenders DJ Benton and Daniel Navarro and star forward and playoff hero Rafa Mentzingen all signed with North Carolina FC; dynamic defender Timmy Mehl’s loan expired, and once released from Tampa Bay, promptly signed with Forward Madison; and assists leader José Carrera-Garcia moved on to Fuego FC. Lead goal scorer Juan Galindrez remains unsigned and unlikely to return. As of right now, the losses and the still unsigned represent a whopping 41 goals lost from the 2022 season. These are some huge shoes to fill, and so far, the club has yet to even attempt it. At least there’s still time, and still a few playmakers and defenders available.
10) One Knox SC
The league’s second announced expansion side for 2023 wasted no time in building out a roster. As expansion sides tend to do, it’s an untested hodgepodge of veterans and new professionals. The roster fills out from USL League One, USL Championship, USL League Two, NCAA and even one each from Eredivisie and the Maltese Premier League. It’s exciting, and we’re all cheering for their success as the optimistic underdogs, but as of now, it’s difficult to pin immediate success on this bunch.
11) Greenville Triumph
Key additions: none
Key departures: Jake Keegan, Paul Christensen
Greenville has yet to announce any signings. So far all we know is goalkeeper Paul Christensen announced his retirement and forward Jake Keegan signed with One Knox SC in free agency. Once we see some confirmed returnees and signings, we’ll reanalyze.
12) Lexington SC
No squad, no points in the ranking. Look for a better analysis next month when the club promises some signings.