2005 Top 20
Final Update: December 2024
The 2005 class has taken a beating. In the last six months, the class has lost two of it’s top prospects with Esmir Bajraktarevic and Obed Vargas committing to Bosnia and Mexico respectively. Esmir Bajraktarevic was my top rated 2005 player in my last rankings and Obed Vargas, number five.
This class has never been strong, but losing two of your top prospects makes for a bleak group. On the positive side of things, there is a new top player in this class and he plays at a position of need for the senior team. If the 2005 group has any chance to contribute to the U.S. Men’s National Team, they will need the top couple prospects to pan out.
This is my last ranking for the 2005 class and I will no longer be evaluating them going forward.
2005 Class at a Glance
1
USMNT Caps
3.85
Top 20 Average Rating
RB, CB, CM
Positional Strengths
LB, DM, WING, CF
Positional Weaknesses
1. RB, Leo Duru, Blackburn Rovers (↑6)
Grade: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🏴 🇳🇬
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Duru is an attack-minded right-back or wing-back with elite pace and an ability to join the attack and create chances in the final third. He isn’t known for his defense, but when asked to, he holds up well. He has the intelligence, quickness and toughness to develop as an on and off ball defender.
2. CM, Benjamin Cremaschi, Inter Miami (No change)
Grade: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇦🇷
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Cremaschi is a relentless box to box midfielder with great physicality and instincts in the final third. He has the physical profile of an 8, with the playmaking instincts of a 10. He isn’t always the cleanest on the ball and he can get lost at times defensively, but his work rate, profile and instincts should take him far.
3. CM/AM, Niko Tsakiris, San Jose Earthquakes (↑3)
Grade: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Tsakiris does his best work as a connector and playmaker in the final third. In his ideal role, he has less box to box responsibilities and more of a free role to impact the game in the opponents half.
4. CM, Noel Buck, Southampton (↓1)
Grade: 4.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🏴 🏴
National Team: 🏴 U-20
Buck is a versatile midfielder with very good technical qualities that can progress the ball effectively both as a dribbler and a passer. He also possesses an electric left foot that can do damage in the final third. He is still a work in progress against the ball, but has the physical qualities to improve over time. Buck is currently provisionally cap-tied to England, but has not been invited to the last few England camps within his age group.
5. DM/CM, Brooklyn Raines, Houston Dynamo (↑9)
Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇱🇷
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
My appreciation for Raines is growing. He is a reliable and well rounded midfielder that can be trusted as a single pivot because of his press resistance and can also add value as a box to box midfielder. He doesn’t possess any elite qualities, but he does all the things you would ask of a midfielder at an acceptable level.
6. CB, Josh Wynder, Benfica (↑3)
Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Wynder has incredible intellect and intangibles and he has become a very good distributor. He isn’t the biggest, strongest or fastest center-back, but his desire and intelligence make up for it.
7. RB/LB, Reed Baker-Whiting, Seattle Sounders (↓3)
Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Baker-Whiting is a naturally right-footed player that has spent most of his time on the left side. He is an above average one on one defender and has decent moments in attack, though he needs to clean up his technique and decision making as a passer.
8. GK, Gavin Beavers, Real Salt Lake (↑2)
Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Beavers is a big and strong keeper with explosive physical qualities and above average reflexes. He is improving as a distributor, but it is still not considered a strength. He has vastly improved on the details and nuances of controlling his box which is why he has been given more opportunities on the first team.
9. LW, Kristian Fletcher, Nottingham Forest (↓1)
Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🏴
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Fletcher is a strong and powerful winger with a cannon of a right foot and an instinct for finding space and finishing in the final third. He is hit or miss in one on one situations and his defensive attributes are admirable, but not outstanding.
Tarik Scott, Winger for FC Dallas
10. WING, Tarik Scott, FC Dallas (↑2)
Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇯🇲
National Team: No appearances this cycle
Scott is a pacey and vertical winger that does his best work off of the ball. He strikes the ball well with both feet and can be useful as a presser. He needs to improve his awareness and instincts on the ball, but the foundation is there for a very useful attacker.
11. CB, Drew Murray, SC Freiburg (No change)
Grade: 4 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Murray has a very intriguing combination of size, mobility and comfortability on the ball. He is still inconsistent defensively and could still show a little more range and diversity as a passer.
12. AM/RW, Favian Loyola, Orlando City (New addition)
Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇨🇱
National Team: 🇨🇱 U-20
Loyola looks more explosive and confident this year on the ball than I have seen in the past couple of years. He is a crafty and highly technical left-footed attacker who does his best work in the half space. He can be a liability defensively at times, but his ability to make plays in the final third is valuable.
13. CB, Santiago Suarez, New England Revolution (↑3)
Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇺🇾
National Team: No appearances this cycle
Suarez is a towering and surprisingly mobile center-back for a player of his size (6-5). He is fairly comfortable on the ball, but his awareness of pressure needs to improve. If he can become more consistent defensively, he has the ceiling to be an intriguing prospect.
14. DM/RB/CB, Ethan Kohler, Werder Bremen (↑6)
Grade: 3 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇮🇩
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Kohler does not have a true position fit or elite qualities, but he consistently makes his team and the players around him better. He is not deficient on the ball, but does not provide a lot of dynamic offensive qualities. Defensively, he is tenacious and is highly disruptive.
15. WING, Serge Ngoma, New York Red Bulls (New addition)
Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇬🇦
National Team: No appearances this cycle
Ngoma’s biggest issues are soft tissue injuries. He has struggled mightily to stay healthy the last few years and that has hurt his development. When available, he is an explosive, powerful and direct winger that does a good job working off of the ball. Like most Red Bull attackers, he is also adept at leading the press.
16. RB, Logan Neidlinger, Indy Eleven (New addition)
Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
National Team: No appearances this cycle
Neidlinger is a smooth player with clean technical qualities both when controlling the ball and as a passer. He isn’t the biggest guy, but he has enough mobility and quickness to not be a burden defensively at higher levels and he has a decent tactical sense of the game.
17. GK, Emmanuel Ochoa, San Jose Earthquakes (New addition)
Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸 🇲🇽
National Team: 🇲🇽 U-20
Ochoa is a well rounded keeper that does not have any major deficiencies in his game, but also lacks elite qualities.
18. RB/LB, Frankie Westfield, Philadelphia Union (New addition)
Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Westfield has emerged as a solid full-back prospect that can be relied upon on both flanks. He uses both feet well which allow him to deliver good service from both the left and the right. He is a high level competitor on defense and is surprisingly dangerous in the air. His work rate, training habits and leadership skills are said to be off the charts as well.
19. CB, Noah Cobb, Atlanta United (New addition)
Grade: 3.5 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Cobb is an undersized, but quick center-back that can be relied upon to play in his space. His distribution continues to improve and he has added a very reliable diagonal ball to his passing repertoire. He has to clean up his one on one defense and his challenges, but he has shown that he can be a serviceable center-back in MLS at a young age.
20. LB/CB/DM, Nolan Norris, FC Dallas (↓5)
Grade: 3 ✮
Nationalities: 🇺🇸
National Team: 🇺🇸 U-20
Nolan Norris is another solid player that lacks elite tools, but he can play a lot of positions and he has a nice left-foot — that’s a combination that will get you opportunities. He hasn’t solidified a key role with Dallas yet, only getting spot minutes when covering for unavailable players. On the USYNT side, he is looking like the starting left-back for the time being, but it will be interesting to see if that changes if/when Reed Baker-Whiting comes back to the group.
Disclaimer
I have not had the opportunity to scout the following players: CB, Chris Mbaï-Assem (Strasbourg) and CF, Kaan Inanoglu (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Scouting Approach
How I approach scouting, grading and tiering youth prospects.
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