Josiah Blanton

Josiah Blanton
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-02-06) February 6, 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 February 6, 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

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

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

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

Blanton attended Roswell High School.[2] His father, Corey, played basketball for the Kennesaw State Owls.[2]

International career statistics

As of match played August 16, 2025[14]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
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.
List of international goals scored by Josiah Blanton[14]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1August 16, 2025Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium, Springdale, United States Turks and Caicos Islands1–22–32025 Outrigger Challenge Cup

References

  1. ↑ Roberson, Doug (June 3, 2016). "Meet Atlanta United's first academy players". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Josiah Blanton - Men's Soccer". James Madison University Athletics. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  3. ↑ "LASSITER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMED GATORADE GEORGIA BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR" (PDF). Gatorade Player of the Year. June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Four Dukes Named to Men's Soccer All-State Teams". James Madison University Athletics. January 23, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  5. ↑ "MLS SuperDraft 2024 eligible players". mlssoccer. December 15, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  6. ↑ Clark, Travis (December 18, 2024). "MLS SuperDraft 2025 top prospects by position". mlssoccer. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  7. ↑ Gowder, Grey (August 11, 2025). "Players to Watch: Atlanta United 2025 College Soccer Preview - Scarves and Spikes". scarvesandspikes.com. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Southern Soccer Academy Kings - 2021 Regular Season - Roster - # - Josiah Blanton -". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Josiah Blanton". Asheville City SC. Archived from the original on December 14, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  10. ↑ Diamond, George. "Nor'easters Clinch Playoffs for 4th Year in a Row". ocnoreasters.com. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  11. ↑ "WELCOME TO NONA, @josiah.blanton". Nona FC. April 26, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026 – via Instagram.
  12. ↑ "Meet the Marshall Islands squad". Official Site of the Marshall Islands Soccer Federation. August 1, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  13. ↑ Stephen, Craig (August 26, 2025). "The goal that was five years in the making for football's newest nation". Friends of Football. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  14. 1 2 Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Josiah Blanton (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
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