Let's talk about our newest signing - Chris Applewhite.
If you haven't been following our academy closely, this kid's been turning heads since his days at Arlington Soccer Academy. Chris hails from Maryland and is yet another product of THE PG County sports community that keeps churning out eye popping talent.
Chris' father played football in college and his sister played soccer at Howard. He even had a cousin that played for the Tennessee Titans (briefly). This kid has sports in his DNA.
At just 17, Applewhite's already built like a proper defender (6'2", 182 lbs), and his rapid rise through the NSC youth system is pretty wild. From U17 squad to pro contract in two seasons? That's not normal, bruh.
The Good Stuff
- Named Nashville SC's Academy Player of the Year in 2024
- Made the MLS NEXT All-Star Game (one of only 44 players from over 5,000!)
- Already has pro minutes with Huntsville City FC, where he became their youngest-ever starter
The Reality Check
Look, we all love a good homegrown signing story, but let's keep it real. Applewhite's still raw. He's got the physical tools and clearly the right mentality (Mike Jacobs keeps raving about his "professional mentality"), but there's a massive difference between academy football and the MLS.
With veterans like Zimmerman and Maher ahead of him, we shouldn't expect to see Applewhite starting right away. And honestly? That's probably for the best. Let the kid develop properly, split time between first team training and Huntsville minutes, and grow into the role.
Why This Matters
Here's what I love about this signing - it shows Nashville SC is serious about that "Uniquely Nashville" thing they keep talking about. Applewhite's our third homegrown player, and these kinds of signings help build reinforce to me, the average fan that the club FO is at least "trying" to build this thing from the roots up. Nashville claims to want to have an impact locally and that has been felt...kind of. Showing kids that their youth system can lead to a professional deal is an important step to growing this game here and across the US of A. I want to see more of this.
What to Watch For
The contract runs through 2027 (with options for '28 and '29), so the club's clearly thinking long-term here. I mean why not. The contract barely touches their pockets and they get to see if they guessed right on this guy. Keep an eye on how they manage his development between Nashville and Huntsville. That balance will be crucial for his growth.
The Big Questions We Should Be Asking
Before we get too hyped, let's talk about what we should really be watching for:
1. Playing Time: How's BJ gonna balance his minutes between NSC and Huntsville? Sure, first-team training is great, but the kid needs actual game time to develop.
2. Position Lock: Where exactly does he fit in our backline? At 17, he's still growing - could impact where he ends up playing long-term. His touch on the ball aint half bad could we look at ways to incorporate him into the attack?
3. Veteran Influence: How much is he learning from guys like Zimmerman? Having world-class defenders as mentors is huge for development.
4. Pressure Management: Can the club shield him from too much pressure while still giving him chances to prove himself? We've seen plenty of young talents crack under expectations.
The Bottom Line
Applewhite's signing isn't going to immediately change our fortunes in 2025, but that's not the point. This is about building something sustainable, developing our own talent, and creating a pathway from our academy to the first team. If he develops as hoped, we might have something special on our hands.
Just remember - patience is key here. Let's give the kid time to grow.