TAMPA, Fla. - Twenty-three of the 31 players (74%) named to the 2025 Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List competed in USL League Two during the 2024 or 2025 season. The list highlights early contenders for the NCAA Division I National Player of the Year award which is presented in January. The 23 selected players, identified by United Soccer Coaches, represent 17 League Two clubs and 18 colleges.

Kamran Acito – Manhattan SC – Duke University

Acito spent the 2024 season with Manhattan SC who finished fourth in the fierce Metropolitan Division. The Manhattan native has been a stalwart in Duke’s backline as the Blue Devils have gotten off to a strong start in conference play.

David Ajagbe – Vermont Green FC – University of Portland 

Ajagbe was a key piece of Vermont Green’s march to the League Two title, making valuable appearances throughout the playoffs. With the Portland Pilots, Ajagbe has been a lethal scorer, with eight goals to his name so far. 

Richie Aman – Ballard FC – University of Washington 

Aman provided the engine for Ballard’s dynamic attack this season, contributing over 10 goal contributions as the club marched to its second final in three years. With Washington, he has started every game this season as the Huskies find themselves first in the Big Ten. 

Palmer Ault – Flint City Bucks – Indiana University 

In 2024, Ault helped the Bucks make the Central Conference Final. Ault, who has also spent time in the Indy Eleven Academy system, had a hattrick this past weekend, putting the Hoosiers’ forward tied for second in the country with 14 goals.  

Mitch Budler – Lionsbridge FC – University of Akron 

Budler had a brief stint with Lionsbridge this year and helped them pick up some important early-season points. For the Zips, Budler has let in less than one goal per game as Akron currently sits second in the Big East’s Midwest Division.

Sebastian Conlon – Mississippi Brilla FC – University of Kentucky 

Conlon provided sharp goalkeeping for Brilla this summer before transferring to the University of Kentucky. He has started all 12 games so far for the Wildcats, powering them to a 4-1 start to conference play.

Enzo Dovlo – Vermont Green FC – University of North Carolina Greensboro 

Dovlo played for the Green in the early part of the season, tallying three assists. The Frenchman has been a huge part of the Spartans' success this season, who are most recently ranked No. 18 in the country. 

Logan Erb – AHFC Royals – North Carolina State University 

Erb was a lock in AHFC’s lineup this summer and kept three clean sheets for his hometown club. He has kept his impressive play going into the college season, having only given up three goals so far through 14 games. 

Arnau Farnos – Lane United FC – Oregon State University 

Farnos played for Lane United during the 2024 season, putting home two goals in only 90 minutes on the field. With 10 goals so far, Farnos is tied for eighth on the NCAA Division I’s scoring leaderboard. 

Cooper Flax – Salem City FC – Wake Forest University 

Flax joined Salem City for the early part of the season, helping the club pick up valuable points en route to its sixth straight division title. He currently leads Wake Forest with five assists and sits second with five goals. 

Cooper Forcellini – Sunflower State FC – Xavier University 

Forcellini was an impact player for the Sunnies this summer. The Kansas native has taken a big step in his collegiate career this fall, scoring nine goals through 12 games so far. 

Joe Highfield – Minneapolis City SC – University of Portland 

Highfield was dynamic for Minneapolis who made a run to the Central Conference Final. With Portland, he has provided clutch plays as the Pilots are tied for first in the WCC five games into conference play. 

Kenan Hot – FC Motown STA – Duke University 

Hot helped captain Motown through a season that saw them finish with the best points per match in League Two. Through 12 games, the New Jersey native has 10 goal contributions for the Blue Devils.

Maxi Kissel – Vermont Green FC – University of Vermont 

Maxi “Mr. Vermont” Kissel has etched his name into Vermont sports history in the last 10 months. He scored the championship-winning goals for both the University of Vermont and Vermont Green, both in dramatic fashion. This season, he has been a big part of Vermont sitting second place in the America East Conference. 

Ricky Louis – Lionsbridge FC – Georgia Southern University 

Louis was one of many players to ball out for Lionsbridge this summer, scoring a hattrick in the Eastern Conference First Round. He’s been a leader for Georgia Southern who has been ranked as high as No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. 

Daniel Lugo – St. Petersburg FC – High Point University 

Lugo contributed some early season minutes for St. Petersburg, who were much improved compared to last season. He has been a consistent goal scorer for High Point, who was ranked No. 8 in the latest NCAA poll 

Nikola Markovic – Cedar Stars Rush – North Carolina State University 

Markovic provided high-quality defending for Cedar Stars Rush, who kept three clean sheets this year. With NC State, he has been a big reason the team has only conceded in three of 14 games to date. 

Edouard Nys – Asheville City SC – University of Illinois Chicago 

Nys was the motor for Asheville’s impeccable offense during the regular season, finishing with nine goal contributions. He has taken it to a new level this college season, currently sitting on 14 goals, good for second in Division I.

Donavan Phillip – Flint City Bucks – North Carolina State University 

The League Two Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner kept his torrent form going into the fall. After scoring 17 goals between the regular season and playoffs with Flint City, Phillip has scored 15 goals in 13 games, putting him first in the NCAA Division I Golden Boot race. 

Nicholas Simmonds – Charlottesville Blues FC – University of Virginia 

Simmonds took on valuable minutes for Charlottesville in the treacherous Chesapeake Division. The USL Academy product from Richmond is one of two freshmen on the Hermann Watch List as he leads the Cavilers with five goals.  

Abdel Talabi – Boston Bolts – Bryant University 

Talabi played a key role in the Bolts’ defense this summer. The Massachusetts native has started every game for Bryant who won 13 straight games between two draws. 

Guiliano Whitchurch – West Chester United SC – Princeton University 

Whitchurch was a versatile piece for West Chester, who returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. With Princeton, he has helped them keep nine clean sheets so far, as the Tigers sit first in the Ivy League.

Zach Zengue – Vermont Green FC – Georgetown University 

Zengue captained the Green to the League Two title this year, contributing nine goals and four assists between the regular and postseasons. With current No. 15 Georgetown, he is tied for fourth in the country with 12 goals.