In a season of incredible adversity for Atlanta United, our Homegrowns showed plenty of reasons for excitement for the future of this club. When looking at the overall progress of Atlanta United’s Academy from the players to the coaches, staff, and methodologies, you can see an overall trend of growth and improvement with highly athletic and mature players making the most of their opportunities with Atlanta United 2, in college, and in their first professional contracts.
Over the years at DirtySouthSoccer and now at Scarves & Spikes, we have tracked the transformation of the club’s methodology and support structure for young players starting with George Bello, the first academy success, to Caleb Wiley, the new highest standard for the club’s prospects and development team. After beginning his soccer journey with Atlanta United at just 11 years old and serving as a ball boy in the 2018 MLS Cup at the Benz against Portland, Atlanta United sold its second homegrown left-back talent overseas for a whopping $11 million (plus sell-on percentage) to Chelsea. Weeks later, Wiley was in Paris representing his country at the Olympics.
During his time in Atlanta, Wiley was a highly visible and productive player for the 2s and the first team while also being active in service to his community. At just 19-years-old, Wiley achieved and continues to achieve is the new benchmark of achievement for every young player working their way through Atlanta United’s Academy. He is living their dream and has shown that it is possible. Success inspires success and the resources Atlanta received from Wiley’s transfer fee will be extremely useful as Garth Lagerway, Chris Henderson, Javier Perez, David Tenney, and Ronny Deila continue to improve the overall quality of the club’s development pipeline.
During his tenure at NYCFC, Atlanta United’s new Head Coach, Ronny Deila, discussed his love of coaching, especially when his players and colleagues are collectively pushing to attain the best version of themselves as individuals and as a team. He said, “What gives me something in life is to create something together with people and develop other people. To feel that you are affecting something. That’s why I can’t work with people that don’t want to get better or can’t be better.”
For current and emerging academy products looking to impress their new coach and make a name for themselves at the Benz, look no further than Wiley and Jay Fortune. Fortune’s highly successful breakout season did not happen by accident and did not come as a total surprise. Fortune embodies the determination and fearless attitude we see from so many of our top-performing academy players and products. Let them earn the opportunity to be the “next man up” and they will leave it all on the field.
Noah Cobb
In our season review of Jay Fortune, we talked about the importance of the “Next Man Up” mentality for young players and how that mindset earned Fortune my nomination for Atlanta United 2024 Breakout Player of the Year. My preseason nominee for 2025 is Noah Cobb.
Stats
Matches Played/Started: 16 / 19 , 2 substitute appearances in the playoffs against Inter Miami
Minutes: 1353
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
What went right?
Opportunities do not always come at the most ideal and convenient times, and when they do, we need to be ready to give our all to make the best impression we can. While not as memorable as Fortune’s impressive 2024 season, Atlanta United’s 19-year-old homegrown centerback played a massive role as a starter as injuries, inconsistent form, and international duty depleted the club’s backline. After only appearing in 3 MLS matches in 2023, Cobb’s opportunity came early and often in 2024, making his first start of the season in Toronto on March 23rd before earning 15 more starts through the end of a grueling summer. These are the kinds of seasons that test young players but make them stronger in the end.
What to improve on?
Someone must have used Ted Lasso saying, “have a memory like a goldfish” after Cobb joined a long list of defenders to struggle against Christian Benteke. He isn’t the first and certainly will not be the last, so there is no shame there. While he could still add a bit of height and size as he enters his prime, he will need to improve his aerial game and approach to managing highly unfavorable matchups like Benteke. Part of that is on his coaching staff to get him help, but Cobb should be learning everything he can from defenders with a similar profile like Michael Parkhurst. Cobb has incredible speed and athleticism so continuing to improve his positioning and the mental side of the game should help him take his next big step.
What role will he play in 2025?
This is a far more nuanced question than I was expecting just a couple of months ago. At first glance, we would expect Cobb to player an important role as the primary backup for Stian Gregersen and Derrick Williams, but Garth Lagerway may have a different vision for the young defender. In his postseason remarks, Lagerway mentioned the club’s interest in converting Cobb into a right-back. It is hard to say whether this is an attempt to find more meaningful minutes for a talented young player or if they are genuinely concerned about his size. Cobb certainly has the speed and athleticism to play the position, with some indications that the passing could be there with some dedicated training. The biggest question will be how he will fit into Ronny Deila’s vision for the club.
Overall Grade: B
Efrain Morales
While Morales did not see as many opportunities as fellow homegrown centerback Noah Cobb, he showed a lot of reasons for optimism as he improved his discipline and consistency on the pitch. As a former top-prospect who is still hoping to reach his potential, Morales has stepped up in training and in making the most of his opportunities for minutes. First-team reserve players are not required to play for the 2s, but can choose to on a match-by-match basis if they are not expecting to get minutes with the senior side. Rather than being content to just side on the first-team bench and get mental reps, Morales consistently opted for the opportunity to play, learn, and improve. Those choices do not go unnoticed.
Stats
Matches Played/Started: MLS 4 matches/2 starts, US Open Cup 3 starts, MLS NEXT Pro 15 matches
Minutes: 1,803
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
What went right?
We have already talked about how Fortune and Cobb embraced the “next man up” mentality to make the most of their opportunities. That was even more true for Morales in his rare starting opportunity on the road against DC United just a few matches after Christian Benteke put on an aerial clinic against Noah Cobb. For Morales, the tactical responsibilities were simple, put Benteke in a phone booth and make him irrelevant. In just his second start of the season, Morales played the most impressive and selfless 90 minutes of his life to help Atlanta United shut out DC United in a grueling 1 – 0 road win.
What to improve on?
The on-going conversation around Morales has been whether he can build any consistency. He was seen as one of the most exciting prospects in academy not that long ago with a trial at Manchester United when he was 16. That player is still there but availability due to fitness and form has impacted his development timeline. The good news is that he is finally getting minutes between the 2s, senior team, and Bolivian international call-ups. The bad news is that he still hasn’t become the dominant defensive ace that he should be.
In addition to building consistency in availability, Morales needs to continue improve his decision-making on the field. He is an immensely talented player with incredible athleticism and technical ability. You can see the ideas (most of the time) but the execution is still catching up. The aerial game on set pieces is finally emerging and the defensive dominance is getting there. But the problem remains when he tries to do too much rather than keeping it simple. For the past few seasons he could be counted on for at least a few reckless red card tackles per season out of frustration or throwing his massive body around to get the ball back. What he did so well against DC United was focusing on his assignment and executing his limited scope of defensive duties impeccably. Let’s see more of that before we starting adding flashy complexity.
What role will he play in 2025?
Even though it may feel like Efrain Morales has been around forever, he is still only 20 years old. In many ways, his best years still seem to be ahead of him. He will likely begin the season as one of Atlanta United’s backup centerbacks behind Williams and Gregersen, but things could change throughout a long season. While it would be a massive jump for him in terms of year-to-year production, it would not be a complete surprise if Morales strings together a series of starting appearances for the senior squad in 2025.
Overall Grade: C+
Tyler Wolff
Like Morales, Wolff has been around forever but has had trouble breaking through to earn consistent and meaningful minutes. His MCL injury in May came at the worst possible time. After building some momentum in the Spring, Wolff was shut down through the end of June, just as injuries, international competition, and dips in form by his teammates could have created a window for him to finally realize his potential in Atlanta.
Stats
Matches Played/Started: MLS 19 appearances, MLS NEXT Pro 3 appearances, US Open Cup 1 start
Minutes: 801
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
What went right?
Prior to his injury, Wolff showed growing promise as a two-way wing capable of being an active and committed defender in the team’s pressing scheme. That high work rate and ability to poach goals will help keep him relevant in the professional game.
Wolff’s highlight this season would probably be his late-season game winner against the New York Red Bulls in the final home match of the regular season.
What to improve on?
Tyler Wolff needs a change of scenery and a chance to find consistent fitness in a new system. Luckily, he has just that with Real Salt Lake.
Overall Grade: C
Luke Brennan
Like Wiley, Luke Brennan has risen through the Atlanta United system from the early age of 12 to finally reach the promised land of debuting at the Benz in 2023 and beginning the slow process of working his way into the first team and the US U-20 Youth National Team in 2024. While minutes were hard to find at the senior level for Brennan in 2024, there are plenty of lessons and highlights he can build on heading into 2025.
Stats
Matches Played/Started: MLS 7 appearances, US Open Cup 3 starts, MLS NEXT Pro 12 appearances
Minutes: 1,230
Goals: 4
Assists: 2
What went right?
Brennan’s most impressive match of the season came in June against Houston. A first half injury to Edwin Mosquera brought Brennan on as an emergency substitution in just the 18th minute. That is incredibly hard for any player. Over the next 72 minutes, Brennan became an absolute nightmare for Franco Escobar, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Micael. Doing his best impression of Neymar, Brennan thoroughly and completely embarrassed and unhinged the entire left flank of Houston’s formation.
“What Luke did was awesome. He showed bravery, he went at them, he was a nuisance there. I felt like he caused them a lot of problems, and that’s great to see,” Valentino said after the match.
Brennan was a bit more deferential, admitting, “I guess it’s just natural (that I got under their skin). I don’t wanna be that type of player, but if it happens, it happens.”
Well, it did happen, and it was a much-needed injection of energy for the fans during a grueling summer.
Though there would not be many more opportunities for Brennan with the senior team in 2024, he certainly showed enough to make his US U-20s debut in October.
What to improve on?
As many fans and media have said, the kids has that dawg in him. If he can keep that attitude and swagger in his game will continuing to improve the tools that can back it up, he could earn a lot more minutes as a super sub in 2025.
The main things he needs to work on are finishing, ball retention, and his strength and balance in fighting through the 1-on-1 take-ons that he loves to create in the attacking third.
What role will he play in 2025?
The soon-to-be 20-year-old has a lot of reasons to feel confident about his prospects in 2025. With rumors swirling about Edwin Mosquera going on loan and Tyler Wolff already traded to RSL, the competition for meaningful minutes on the wing feels wide open. With a new coach that loves driven players like Brennan, he could make himself the immediate understudy for Saba Lobjanidze and maybe even competition for Xande Silva.
Overall Grade: B-
Matthew Edwards
Matt Edwards knew the assignment. After returning from the University of North Carolina on a one-year prove-it deal with Atlanta United 2, he quickly established himself as a leader for his young teammates, and a viable option for the first-team. Just a few months into his first professional contract, he earned a promotion and his MLS debut.
Stats
Matches Played/Started: MLS appearance 1, Leagues Cup appearance 1, US Open Cup 3 starts, MLS NEXT Pro 16 starts
Minutes: 1,532
Goals: 0
Assists: 2
What went right?
What an incredible season it has been for Matthew Edwards. Rather than trying to come up with something concise and clever here, get the full story from Henry’s mid-season article about Edwards’ rapid rise.
What to improve on?
The defensive fundamentals are there. To become a more consistent and more well-rounded fullback at the MLS level, Edwards needs to improve the offensive side of his game. While he can be an effective defensive option in a back-three or back-four alignment, Edwards has the athleticism to become a Franco Escobar-style wide defender.
What role will he play in 2025?
With Brooks Lennon likely to miss the beginning of the season as he recovers from injury, the club will need a reliable and versatile fullback on their bench behind Pedro Amador and Ronald Hernandez. With depth extremely thin at fullback and the club even considering shifting Noah Cobb to right-back, Matthew Edwards could see meaningful minutes early an often in 2025.
Overall Grade: B+
The Complete Picture
When reviewing the Academy talent pipeline as a whole in 2024, the players we just reviewed are just the tip of the iceberg. Some of the youngsters hoping to follow in Wiley and Fortune’s footsteps include new Homegrowns Adyn Torres and Ashton Gordon along with Atlanta United’s third Homegrown left-back Dominik Chong Qui who signed his first professional contract right before the holidays, and U-19s player Stephen Hurlock who is high up on our list of potential next Homegrown Players.
While these young players have yet to play a significant role with the senior team, they represent a maturing talent pipeline that will continue to grow and produce highly athletic talent. Chong Qui joins Cooper Sanchez and Kaiden Moore as academy products beginning their professional careers with the 2s in 2025 alongside recently-signed midfielder Will Reilly who returns from an impressive college career at Stanford. Ashton Gordon will join the first-team roster at the start of 2025, and Torres may be working towards a longer stay in Europe ahead of his 18th birthday after wrapping up a successful trial with Portugal’s FC Porto.
The impressive growth of the academy’s impact on Atlanta United’s first-team is often overlooked and under-appreciated. In 2018, Atlanta United’s Homegrown Players only played 338 total minutes. Six seasons later, Atlanta United’s Homegrown Players played 5,828 minutes (15% of all team minutes played) between the MLS Regular Season and the MLS Playoffs. That is significant value in a salary capped league.
Let us know who you are most excited to see this preseason and who you think could be breakout candidates in 2025.
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nice job grey! i am holding out hope that deila will be really open on making these young guys a big part of our 2025 season. especially fortune, brennan and cobb. there is a lot to love about their potentially, and i can see all three as regular starters during the season.
He had a good track record at NYCFC of developing some of their young guys into integral parts of the team. James Sands is a great example of that.
Great summary. It is awesome to see the academy kids getting meaningful minutes and contributing real value.
I really feel like Fortune can become a Nagbe type mid, if given the right guidance and opportunity.
Really interested to see how the Cobb and Morales situation plays out this year. Williams and Gregersen are a strong pairing, but if injuries play out like they did in 2024, there should be plenty of minutes for them to earn their place.
I also like the potential I see in Brennan more so than what I saw in Wolff. That quiet confidence and scrapiness gives him an edge because the talent is there.
I have to remind myself to be patient with these players considering their age and needed time for development, but it really looks like a solid pipeline is established.
Thanks!
I’m very excited for the preseason because I think our new coach will value and reward the work and talent of these young players.
Gregersen will probably get more international call ups, so Cobb and Morales should get plenty of playing time. Hopefully Brennan gets more 1st team playing time. All 3 should get plenty of playing time in the US Open Cup, assuming Atlanta is one of the MLS teams in the US Open Cup next season
I’ve seen quite a bit of potential from Brennan but lack of minutes hurts his ability to shine. He seems good on the ball and the dribble. Just need more examples to see what he can do.