Cary, NC (March 24, 2017) – North Carolina FC has added to their roster with the signings of Capital Area RailHawks Academy goalkeeper, George Marks, and U.S. U-18 midfielder, Jose Carranza, to amateur contracts.
“We are delighted to sign these two quality players to amateur contracts,” said North Carolina FC Head Coach Colin Clarke. “They are young and hungry players who have proven themselves in training. This is a tremendous opportunity for both Jose and George to learn and develop into future professionals by working alongside the first team on and off the field.”
Marks is a 17-year-old Raleigh native that is a product of the Capital Area RailHawks Academy. The goalkeeper started playing soccer at the age of six and worked his way through the CASL system, until he reached the U-15/16 Capital Area RailHawks team in 2015. Since then, he has started 30 games for the U-15/16 and U-17/18 teams.
Development academy players are eligible to train and sign amateur contracts with professional soccer teams prior to their enrollment in college and keep their NCAA eligibility. Marks has committed to attend Clemson University in Fall 2018.
“It definitely means a lot to me to get to play for my hometown club and keep developing in the sport,” Marks said. “This was always a goal of mine. All these guys are older than me and they’ve played for many years against big clubs, so I’m going to learn everything I can from them every day.”
Carranza is an 18-year-old midfielder who is coming to North Carolina Football Club from the Academy team of D.C. United of Major League Soccer. The Manassas, Virginia native played for their U-16 and U-18 academy teams, where he started in 20 games throughout the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons.
Carranza came up through the ranks for the United States, playing for their U-14 though U-18 teams. He was recently one of only 28 players invited to train at the U-18 Men’s National Team 2017 training camp from Jan. 23-30 in Bradenton, Fla.
In addition, Carranza was a standout performer for the U.S. U-18 MNT in August in the international Vaclav Jezek Tournament, where he scored twice under the guidance of North Carolina FC assistant coach, Dewan Bader, who was an assistant coach for the team.
“To me, this means a beginning to a good season and hopefully a good career,” Carranza said. “The guys have brought me in as one of their own and have been treating me well. I think I’m going to learn a lot here. Playing Atlas in front of a big crowd on Wednesday with my name on my jersey for the first time, it was an amazing feeling and I got a little taste of the pro-life.”
Players from the Capital Area RailHawks Academy have had longtime success, as the first player North Carolina FC signed to an amateur contract from the academy, Conor Donovan, was selected 22nd overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The defender went on to play for Orlando City of Major League Soccer.
Last year, the organization signed three academy players to amateur contracts, with the additions of Jeremy Kelly, Nick Taitague and Jose Morales Jr.
Kelly is a current freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he recorded three goals and three assists in 21 appearances. Morales Jr. continues to make an impact on the Capital Area RailHawks Academy U-17 /18 and is committed to attend North Carolina State University in the fall.
Taitague was a teammate of Carranza’s in the Vaclav Jezek Tournament, where he scored in the United States’ victory over the Czech Republic in the championship game and is currently playing with Bundesliga’s FC Schalke 04 II (club’s reserve team). Most recently, he made his debut with the senior team in a friendly against Hannover.
Marks and Carranza are eligible to make their NASL regular season debut on March 25 in North Carolina FC’s 7:30 p.m. home opener against Miami FC.
Cary, NC (March 24, 2017) – North Carolina FC has added to their roster with the signings of Capital Area RailHawks Academy goalkeeper, George Marks, and U.S. U-18 midfielder, Jose Carranza, to amateur contracts.
“We are delighted to sign these two quality players to amateur contracts,” said North Carolina FC Head Coach Colin Clarke. “They are young and hungry players who have proven themselves in training. This is a tremendous opportunity for both Jose and George to learn and develop into future professionals by working alongside the first team on and off the field.”
Marks is a 17-year-old Raleigh native that is a product of the Capital Area RailHawks Academy. The goalkeeper started playing soccer at the age of six and worked his way through the CASL system, until he reached the U-15/16 Capital Area RailHawks team in 2015. Since then, he has started 30 games for the U-15/16 and U-17/18 teams.
Development academy players are eligible to train and sign amateur contracts with professional soccer teams prior to their enrollment in college and keep their NCAA eligibility. Marks has committed to attend Clemson University in Fall 2018.
“It definitely means a lot to me to get to play for my hometown club and keep developing in the sport,” Marks said. “This was always a goal of mine. All these guys are older than me and they’ve played for many years against big clubs, so I’m going to learn everything I can from them every day.”
Carranza is an 18-year-old midfielder who is coming to North Carolina Football Club from the Academy team of D.C. United of Major League Soccer. The Manassas, Virginia native played for their U-16 and U-18 academy teams, where he started in 20 games throughout the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons.
Carranza came up through the ranks for the United States, playing for their U-14 though U-18 teams. He was recently one of only 28 players invited to train at the U-18 Men’s National Team 2017 training camp from Jan. 23-30 in Bradenton, Fla.
In addition, Carranza was a standout performer for the U.S. U-18 MNT in August in the international Vaclav Jezek Tournament, where he scored twice under the guidance of North Carolina FC assistant coach, Dewan Bader, who was an assistant coach for the team.
“To me, this means a beginning to a good season and hopefully a good career,” Carranza said. “The guys have brought me in as one of their own and have been treating me well. I think I’m going to learn a lot here. Playing Atlas in front of a big crowd on Wednesday with my name on my jersey for the first time, it was an amazing feeling and I got a little taste of the pro-life.”
Players from the Capital Area RailHawks Academy have had longtime success, as the first player North Carolina FC signed to an amateur contract from the academy, Conor Donovan, was selected 22nd overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The defender went on to play for Orlando City of Major League Soccer.
Last year, the organization signed three academy players to amateur contracts, with the additions of Jeremy Kelly, Nick Taitague and Jose Morales Jr.
Kelly is a current freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he recorded three goals and three assists in 21 appearances. Morales Jr. continues to make an impact on the Capital Area RailHawks Academy U-17 /18 and is committed to attend North Carolina State University in the fall.
Taitague was a teammate of Carranza’s in the Vaclav Jezek Tournament, where he scored in the United States’ victory over the Czech Republic in the championship game and is currently playing with Bundesliga’s FC Schalke 04 II (club’s reserve team). Most recently, he made his debut with the senior team in a friendly against Hannover.
Marks and Carranza are eligible to make their NASL regular season debut on March 25 in North Carolina FC’s 7:30 p.m. home opener against Miami FC.