North Texas SC has played just 10 games in USL League One, but already, eight different current FC Dallas Academy players have made their professional debut with the team. These eight players join a roster made up predominantly of academy alumni, with only a handful of players coming from outside the FC Dallas organization.

As part of the USL League One roster rules, Eric Quill is allowed to include up to five academy players in his gameday 18, and these players are able to play in League One without losing their NCAA eligibility, giving FC Dallas a great avenue to let their top prospects test the professional waters without having to commit to a professional contract. He's made frequent use of this, with at least one academy player playing in every game this season, and using 6 on two occasions; at home vs Madison on May 22, and on the road in Toronto on June 12.

Quick aside, how Quill managed to play 6 academy players is currently a mystery to me, as I've been under the impression that USL-1 allows just 5 academy contracts per game, and everything I've seen online indicates the same. Either that's actually not the case and the limit is higher, or FC Dallas pulled a sneaky and signed one of these guys to a contract, or they took the loss on NCAA eligibility with the plans to sign a contract soon, or I'm just completely lost.

Anyway.

Debuts

Two academy kids made professional debuts in the league debut for North Texas SC against Chattanooga. U19 defenders Kevin Bonilla and Imanol Almaguer both played left back for North Texas, with Bonilla starting and Almaguer replacing him in the 57'.

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 14: Kevin Bonilla of FC Dallas traps the ball during the Dallas Cup Super Group soccer game between FC Dallas (USA) and Villareal (Spain) on April 14, 2019 at The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky) (Matthew Visinsky / Dallas Cup)

Gibran Rayo made his debut off the bench in game two against Forward Madison, playing as a right-wing. In game three, Tanner Tessman made his debut, playing the entire game as a center forward. Johan Gomez started and played 75 minutes against Greenville in game four, also as a center forward.

Julian Hinojosa, U19 defender, subbed on for Bicou Bissainthe in the 59' against Madison on May 22. He moved over to left back, with Almaguer taking over for Bissainthe in central midfield. The next week, U17 defender Jonathan Gomez, younger brother of Johan, played the full 90 minutes on the road in Toronto at left back. Most recently, U17 defender Nico Carrera made his debut off the bench on the road in Toronto on June 12, coming in for Brecc Evans in the 67'.

Scouting Report

Taking a look at the stats, we can see which academy players are already well-integrated into the North Texas side. Bonilla, Tessmann, and Almaguer lead the way in terms of minutes played, with all three of them north of 570.

Bonilla - who is a natural right back - has become Quill's first choice outside back, and has easily looked the best among the many players who've occupied that role so far this season. He reads the game well for a young defender, he's been clean and careful with his challenges, and he's grown up in Luchi's system where pushing forward and playing at times as a wide midfielder is part of the job. He's also able to play both sides, starting as a left back when Reynolds was with the team, and moving to the right in recent weeks. One particularly interesting thing to note is how often Eric Quill swaps left backs and right backs, to give players minutes opposite their natural side. So far, it's working well, with several players getting starts on both sides.

Tanner Tessmann shoots versus Orlando City B. (5-11-19) (Jack Wallace / North Texas SC)

Tessmann has been used as both one of the dual 8s and as a center forward, and while he's definitely not bad up top, sticking him in midfield alongside David Rodriguez brings out the best in him, and that's where he started when he scored his first professional goal. It's not hard to see Tessmann coming into the first team where Paxton or Bryan Acosta play in the near future.

Almaguer has played as a right back primarily in the academy, but his recent move to playing as a 6 has been a revelation. He's maybe third or fourth on the depth chart in the back line, but at 6, he's only behind Jatta. Rather often, Quill will start Almaguer at left back, sub out someone like Bissainthe, and move Almaguer to central midfield later in games, and it works.

Johan Gomez celebrates his first professional goal for North Texas against Orlando City B. (05-11-2019) (North Texas SC / Jack Wallace)

The second 'tier' of academy kids are the three who've played between 180 and 300 minutes: Johan Gomez, Jonathan Gomez, and Gibran Rayo.

Johan Gomez is a LOT of fun to watch. He made the team filling in for Ricardo Pepi during the Concacaf U17 Championship, got a goal in his second start, and he's sitting right behind Pepi on the depth chart. He's quick, he's dangerous, and he's able to keep sustained pressure deep in the final third for ages. While Pepi is actually 18 months younger than Gomez, Pepi is currently further along and closer to MLS primetime, but Gomez is a player to watch for the next year or two.

Johan's younger brother Jonathan has played three full games as a left back, and it's easy to see the talent in him. He's still super young, and won't be 16 until September, and that might be the biggest factor affecting him now. He's got the raw talent to handle defensive responsibilities at a professional level, but his inexperience and youth shows, particularly late in games. The 2-3 loss and 3-3 draws on the road in Toronto both had moments where he found himself out of position and looking taxed.

Gibran Rayo playing for North Texas SC against Forward Madison. (North Texas SC)

Gibran Rayo has been used both as a defensive midfielder and as a winger, and it's nice to see that level of versatility out of a young player. Through 185 minutes, he's looked comfortable on the wing, and decent enough in defensive midfield. He's not first choice yet in either position, but long term, he could end up as a very solid winger.

Two Academy players have yet to reach the 90-minute mark, both with a single appearance off the bench. Julian Hinojosa is yet another interesting left back, but with only 31 minutes off the bench, we'll need to see more of him to get a better idea of his potential future with the organization. Same goes for U17 Nico Carrera as a center back. He looked fine in his 23 minutes, but again, 23 minutes is a tiny sample size. These two still have at least one more season with the academy before a decision on their future really needs to be made, and there's a good chance we'll see some more minutes for both in the future.

What's Next?

Nicolas Carrera (right) playing for the FC Dallas U17s against Toronto FC in the Sub Internacional Liga MX in August (2018). (Liga MX / Liga MC)

From these eight players, there are several who could, and in my opinion should, be signed to some sort of professional deal, be it a homegrown contract with the first team or a full-time deal with North Texas.

Kevin Bonilla stands out because he's been very good at a position where FC Dallas is might be selling a player eventually. Dallas has Reggie Cannon at right back and has converted Bryan Reynolds to that position as well, both have upside and the potential to be sold sooner rather than later. Bonilla fits in there perfectly and has the ability and comfort to play left back when needed. It's better for him to keep playing with North Texas for the rest of the 2019 season to keep gaining professional experience, with a good chance he's a homegrown signing in the winter. He'll be the easy second choice right back at some point moving forward.

Tanner Tessmann is easily the top 8 prospect with meaningful North Texas minutes, and with the rumors of either Paxton Pomykal or Thomas Roberts potentially being sold in the near future, Tessmann would be the guy to step in. I personally feel like Tessmann has a higher ceiling than some of the current attacking midfield depth with the first team, and he's the sort of player you really want to keep around. Even if it's just depth for Paxton, Roberts, or Bryan Acosta, that's a spot where the roster gets shallow quickly. He might actually be homegrown ready this summer.

If Carlos Gruezo leaves, that means Edwin Cerrillo is pretty much it for defensive midfield options, and it makes far too much sense to move Almaguer to that role permanently with North Texas. We've repeatedly seen that when he's given space to work, he gets down to business, and shuts down professional midfielders with ease. The only reason he's not starting there every single game is because Alfusainey Jatta is amazing, and because Almaguer is comfortable in both outside back roles. Actually, both Almaguer and Jatta should be getting considered for first-team action down the line, although Jatta can't sign as a homegrown, and Almaguer needs more time before throwing him to the fires of MLS.

When Ricardo Pepi finally signs his inevitable homegrown deal that may or may not have secretly happened already, that gives Johan Gomez a chance to become the first choice forward for North Texas in 2020, which is exactly what I expect will happen. It's no secret that Dallas has struggled in the forward department for a disappointingly long time, and the more young, promising forwards the organization can retain, the better. My gut says he signs a full-time North Texas contract within days of Pepi's promotion, with the thought of him moving into the first team sometime in 2021.

Jonathan Gomez has shown that he's one of the more advanced back line prospects in the academy, and it's impossible to have too much back line depth. He's naturally a left back, with him slotting in behind John Nelson in the overall depth chart, but he's capable of playing as a center back when needed. He's got lots of academy time left, and that shouldn't be sacrificed to sign him just yet, but I could see him signing with North Texas at some point next year. That is unless he decides to go off to college.

For Gibran Rayo, I like what I see from him as a winger who's comfortable dropping back and overlapping with the dual 8s than as a defensive-minded midfielder focusing on linking play. I don't think he gets signed any time soon, and he needs at least 7 or 8 more starts on the wing this season, but he's another guy to think about turning pro full time in maybe 18 months or so. He's still eligible for one more U19 season, so splitting time between North Texas and the academy, for the time being, is probably his best bet.

There is always the chance that one or more of these players end up taking college deals over full-time USL League One contracts, but actually, I increasingly disagree with that idea for the top end of the academy. At this point in time, USL-1 is at least on par with if not already better than NCAA soccer, and it's only going to improve over time. To me, it's better for a player with a realistic shot at the professional game to continue developing at the highest possible level. Although, a player going off to college or even to Mexico doesn't prevent them from ending up back with North Texas.

It's going to be interesting over the remainder of the season to keep watching academy players getting their shot at the big show, and what's more remarkable is how consistent North Texas looks and plays with all of this heavy squad rotation. This is the outcome of an organization that implements the same principles from the first team down, to where all of these players know exactly how the system works long before they make their professional debut. It only spells positives for the future of the first team.