South Georgia Tormenta FC has announced the signing of Dodge Brooks, a Tormenta FC Academy player, pending league and federation approval. Brooks is on an Academy contract through the 2024 season.
USL Academy contracts allow Academy products at USL clubs to sign, train, and compete in matches with professional senior teams without affecting their eligibility to play college soccer.
“Dodge is one of the hardest workers and most technical players to come through the academy, and it has been a pleasure to see Dodge progress from a 7-year-old participating in Pre-Academy to now being signed by the Tormenta professional team,” Vice President of the Tormenta FC Academy Brad Nein said. “Dodge is the gold standard of the Academy and demonstrates the opportunities we present to families throughout South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.”
Brooks, a Savannah, Georgia native, has played with the Tormenta FC Academy for 12 years and has proven himself a top player. In 2022, he featured in the U17 MLS NEXT Fest Best of Game, which is a showcase match pitting the top players from across the country against each other.
“Signing this contract and being able to play with the pros is a dream come true,” Brooks said. “I remember when Tormenta first started the pro team, and I was the little kid waiting after the game to get signatures. Now, I am the one on the field, and getting to interact and play with these guys day in and day out is incredible.”
Brooks has been part of the MLS NEXT Academy teams since 2020 and on the USL Academy team since 2021. Brooks is just the ninth Tormenta FC Academy player to sign an academy contract with the USL first team.
“Dodge is a name that has been on our running list of academy prospects for the first team for 3 years now,” Head Coach Ian Cameron said. “From my perspective, a year ago he was pushed to me hard from coaches, but I wasn’t certain. Then in the last year it became evident that he was separating himself. He was enforcing himself on games more. He was making more pro speed actions, pro IQ passes.”
Brooks has already been a regular in training with the first team as a trialist and participated in preseason matches, playing under the name trialist 10.
“Within preseason alone this year he’s developed even further, and has graduated in the eyes of his teammates from an academy player to a teammate and competition for roster places,” Cameron continued. “That’s the highest compliment he could have to be honest, trust and respect from teammates, and to be seen as internal competition. Let’s give him the room to keep developing and fulfill his potential.”
Tormenta FC fans can watch Brooks and the rest of the squad in action this season! Don’t miss a minute of the action by purchasing your tickets here!
For media inquiries or additional information please contact Noah Schroyer at (770) 871-8654 or email nschroyer@tormentafc.com or Caroline Boykin at (912) 667-9422 or email cboykin@tormentafc.com.
