Josiah Blanton
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 6 February 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Roswell, Georgia, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Nona FC | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2016 | Roswell Santos SC | ||
| 2016–2017 | Atlanta United | ||
| 2017–2018 | United Futbol Academy | ||
| 2018–2020 | Concorde Fire | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2024 | James Madison Dukes | 79 | (5) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021 | Southern Soccer Academy Kings | 6 | (0) |
| 2022 | Asheville City | 11 | (1) |
| 2024 | Charlottesville Blues | ||
| 2025 | Ocean City Nor'easters | ||
| 2026– | Nona FC | 2 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2025 | Marshall Islands | 2 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of June 3, 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of June 3, 2026 | |||
Josiah Blanton (born 6 February 2002) is a soccer player who plays as a left-back or centre-back for USL League Two side Nona FC. Born in the United States, he represented the Marshall Islands national team at the 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup.
Early life and college career
[edit]Born in Roswell, Georgia, United States, Blanton started at Roswell Santos, before joining Atlanta United in 2016 as one of the club's first academy players.[1] He later played for USSDA side Concorde Fire.[2]
While in his senior year of high school, he was nominated for the Gatorade State High School Player of the Year in Georgia,[2] but lost out to Bosnian youth international midfielder Vedad Kovac.[3] In 2020, he joined the James Madison Dukes in the NCAA Division I, where he played a total of 79 matches across five seasons and made two All-State Second Teams.[2][4]
In December 2024, Blanton was eligible for the 2024 MLS SuperDraft,[5] but ended up going undrafted. A year later, he was listed as one of the top left-back prospects for the 2025 MLS SuperDraft,[6] but ended up undrafted again.[7]
Club career
[edit]In 2021, Blanton joined the Southern Soccer Academy Kings for the 2021 USL League Two season,[8] before spending the 2022 USL League Two season at Asheville City SC.[9]
In 2025, Blanton signed for USL League Two side Ocean City Nor'easters, where he made his debut as a substitute in a 4–1 win against Delaware FC.[10] He later joined Nona FC in April 2026.[11]
International career
[edit]In August 2025, Blanton was selected to represent the Marshall Islands in their first ever matches at the 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup in Springdale, Arkansas.[12] He later scored the Marshall Islands' first ever goal, scoring with a left-footed strike in the 28th minute of a 3–2 defeat to the Turks and Caicos Islands.[13]
Personal life
[edit]Blanton attended Roswell High School.[2] His father, Corey, played basketball for the Kennesaw State Owls.[2]
International career statistics
[edit]- As of match played August 16, 2025[14]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | 2025 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list the Marshall Islands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Blanton goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 August 2025 | Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium, Springdale, United States |  Turks and Caicos Islands | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2025 Outrigger Challenge Cup |
References
[edit]- ↑ Roberson, Doug (3 June 2016). "Meet Atlanta United's first academy players". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Josiah Blanton - Men's Soccer". James Madison University Athletics. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "LASSITER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED GATORADE GEORGIA BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR" (PDF). Gatorade Player of the Year. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Four Dukes Named to Men's Soccer All-State Teams". James Madison University Athletics. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "MLS SuperDraft 2024 eligible players". mlssoccer. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Clark, Travis (18 December 2024). "MLS SuperDraft 2025 top prospects by position". mlssoccer. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Gowder, Grey (11 August 2025). "Players to Watch: Atlanta United 2025 College Soccer Preview - Scarves and Spikes". scarvesandspikes.com. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ "Southern Soccer Academy Kings - 2021 Regular Season - Roster - # - Josiah Blanton -". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "Josiah Blanton". Asheville City SC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Diamond, George. "Nor'easters Clinch Playoffs for 4th Year in a Row". ocnoreasters.com. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ "WELCOME TO NONA, @josiah.blanton". Nona FC. 26 April 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026 – via Instagram.
- ↑ "Meet the Marshall Islands squad". Official Site of the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- ↑ Stephen, Craig (26 August 2025). "The goal that was five years in the making for football's newest nation". Friends of Football. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- 1 2 Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Josiah Blanton (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
External links
[edit]- Josiah Blanton at National-Football-Teams.com
- James Madison Dukes profile
- Ocean City Nor'easters profile
