For college prospects looking to make their mark at the pro level, USL League One is the place to be. There’s a five-way tie atop the Golden Boot race after Week 12, and three of those scorers – Knoxville’s Denis Krioutchenkov, Fort Wayne’s Lilian Ricol and Taig Healy – were in the NCAA at this time last year. Boise goalkeeper Jonathan Kliewer ranks in the 75th percentile for goals prevented in his rookie campaign. Sarasota’s Sander Roed isn’t technically a rookie, but he’s leading League One in assists while earning the first consistent playing time of his young career.
As leagues like MLS and even the USL Championship improve, it’s become harder for some college grads to find opportunities. Increasingly, League One is the place where it happens. This season, college rookies have been responsible for 24% of the minutes played in League One, second behind intra-league signings among all sources of talent.
The rookie class of 2026 had their fingerprints all over Week 12, but what stood out for each club? Let’s dig in.
The limits of AC Boise’s control
Entering the weekend, Boise led USL League One allowing merely 1.06 xG per match. When you think about the Nate Miller system, it’s impossible not to start with his possession game. But that’s overly simplistic. Boise’s best moments (like their 2-1 win against Naples) have come by marrying their on-ball upside with rigid defensive structure – a structure that still isn’t set in stone, if Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Fort Wayne is any indication.
Between the two matches, Miller played around with his squad choices. Boise have been defined by the use of Blake Bodily and Nick Moon at the wingback spots in their expansion season, but the Naples victory saw Bodily slide into the front line of the 3-4-3. Moon, in turn, took over at left wingback as Jonathan Ricketts held down the right. While Boise hasn’t been inefficient close to goal, the choice to get Bodily and Moon on the same side of the pitch sharpened their attacking blade without sacrificing resting security.
John Morrissey
Here, Boise pushes up their right side after switching the point, leaning into Ricketts and rookie defender Moussa Ndiaye. As Ndiaye flexes upfield from central defense, Boise still maintains a “2+1” base (the remaining two center backs and a low-seated No. 6) behind him. Meanwhile, there’s far more freedom upfield. Ricketts is allowed to slice inside to receive, drawing a slew of Naples defenders. As a result, he can play into Bodily making a cross-field run into the box.
