The Nashville SC academy, aka The Gold Mine, is back for 2025-26 and looking to build off the best academy season in club history. Here are some players to keep an eye on in each age group.
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Under 15s
The U15 roster is loaded with USYNT talent. Forward Cameron Cate, center back Edgar Moreno, goalkeeper Ezra Rosser, and midfielder Riain O’Connor have all been a part of ID camps in the past, and this season they’ll look to earn full callups.
As U14s, they advanced to the quarterfinals of the MLS Next Playoffs, and they’ll look to push even further this season. U15 coach Jason Batty served as an assistant coach for the United States U20 team during the U20 World Cup, which is an excellent sign that the Nashville organization is getting the right people in to help these kids develop.
U15 roster
Under 16s
Currently, the U-16 team appears to be the best age group to come through the ranks of the Gold Mine. Liam Stribling and Emmanuel Arias, coming off the Concacaf u15 Championship, return to the 16s looking to build on a highly successful season last year that ended in the semi-finals of the MLS Next Playoffs. The two are widely viewed as the most highly-rated prospects in the academy.
They'll be supported by fullbacks Luca Stephan, who was called into a recent U16 camp, and Blaise Blackwell, who is playing up an age group.
Jacob Mazariegos, Aiden Byasiima, Dylan Ramirez, Jacob Smith, and Alejandro Velazquez played with the 16s last year as 15-year-olds. Mazariegos was at the CONCACAF U15 championship with Guatemala. Byasiima, Mazareigos, and Giuliano Rodrigues attended a USYNT talent ID camp this past March. All are worth keeping an eye on.
U16 roster
Under 18s
The 18s are an exciting group of familiar names, like Notre Dame commit Tristan Tropeano, and Josh Swanzy, who trialed with Como FC in Italy over the summer. Still, they’re also supplanted by some really bright up-and-coming talent like winger Jihae Park and centerback MLS Next All-Star Isac Enriquez, who both joined over the summer as highly rated prospects.
Kleyber Estrada makes his debut on the U18 roster after lighting the U15 and 16 ranks on fire. He was in preseason with Huntsville this past season
Versatile defender Kamarli Forde really impressed me in the Space Cowboy match with his 1v1 tackling on Jonny Perez and his line-breaking passes. Unfortunately, I believe he is out for an extended period with injury, but I expect he can push for some Huntsville minutes next season.
Liam Devan is a name Nashville fans are well aware of by now. As a 15-year-old, he played up with the U18s as a consistent start and was named an MLS Next All-Star. Devan continues to be a USYNT regular, and all signs point to him signing a Homegrown deal eventually.
An interesting omission from the U18 roster is left Back Gabriel Alonso. Alonso joined this past spring from Inter Miami and has played 500 minutes for Huntsville this season. He started for the NSC U18s not too long ago, and he has had recent bench appearances for Huntsville. He’s still with the Nashville SC system.
My guess is we’ll see an announcement soon with him signing a Huntsville contract or possibly a Homegrown deal.
