USA FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES ROSTER FOR U20 U.S. TACKLE NATIONAL TEAM TRAVELING TO IFAF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

U.S. National Team Athletes and Coaches to Represent Country in International Play  

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. & EDMONTON, ALBERTA – USA Football, a recognized sports organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, has announced the final roster for the U20 U.S. Tackle National Team that will compete in the International Federation of American Football’s (IFAF) World Junior Championship from June 20-30 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In its role as the sport’s governing body, USA Football organizes and selects the U.S. National Teams for international competition.  

The sixth edition of IFAF’s World Junior Championship will feature premier programs from seven countries, including Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Panama and the United States. The U.S. National Team has medaled in all previous iterations of the event, including gold medal finishes in 2009 and 2014 and runner-up bids in 2012 and 2016. The U.S. defeated Sweden to finish third in the most recent junior championship in Mexico City in 2018. 

The 34-man roster features athletes from all corners of the country, including Ariz., Calif., Colo., Fla., N.H., Ill., Mass., Mich., Neb., Pa., S.C., Texas, Wash. and Wis. Among the athletes traveling to Canada are four-star Notre Dame commit Davion Dixon, uncommitted three-star athlete Bryce Williams and CHSAA 4A First Team All-State specialist Rhett Armstrong.  

The quarterback room features several notable faces. Ambidextrous quarterback Mikey Gow, who became a viral sensation in 2022, is making the trip to Canada alongside former 16U U.S. National Team member Aliam Appler, who is training to walk on at Florida Atlantic University.  

USA Football’s U.S. National Team boasts a wide selection of accomplished alumni at the professional and college levels, including former NFL All-Pros Trevon Diggs, Tyrann Mathieu, Jordan Poyer, Jonathan Taylor and Wyatt Teller and first round selections Rashod Bateman, Mac Jones, Kenny Pickett, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Chase Young.  

U.S. National Team alumni Cooper Beebe and Jaylin Simpson were recently selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

USA Football previously announced the coaching staff for the U20 U.S. Tackle National Team. Led by former Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach, Mike Kelly, the eight coaches feature more than 15 decades of combined coaching experience at the high school, college, professional and international levels.  

2024 U20 U.S. Tackle National Team 

Name; Position; Age; Hometown 

Jaedon Alston; RB; 19; Charleston, S.C.  

Aliam Appler; QB; 19; North Palm Beach, Fla.  

Rhett Armstrong; K; 18; Monument, Colo.  

Marvin Brown; WR; 18; Sanford, Fla.   

Carlo Buzzatto; RB; 18; Oakmont, Pa.  

Jacob Cabrera; DL; 18; Baytown, Texas  

Diego Coleman; WR; 18; Belton, Texas  

Charlie Cottrell; OL; 17; Navarre, Fla.  

Davion Dixon; DL; 18; Homestead, Fla.  

Layton Duncan; WR; 19; Phoenix, Ariz.  

Michael Gow, QB; 16; Bellevue, Neb.  

Easton Hood; RB; 18; Comstock Park, Mich.  

Kamron Jackson; WR; 18; Phoenix, Ariz.  

Rovens Jean-Baptiste; LB; 18; Harwich, Mass.  

Price Johnson; WR; 20; Euless, Texas  

Matt Jung; S; 20; Neenah, Wis.  

Keon Kenner; RB; 18; Philadelphia, Pa.  

Joseph Leibrandt; RB; 19; Union, Ill.  

Anthony Luna; QB; 19; Pico Rivera, Calif.  

Hunter McGary; OL; 18; Bryan, Texas 

George Milchev; LB; 17; New Hampton, N.H.  

Aidan Morrow; DL; 18; Worcester, Mass.  

Finley O'Brien; S; 17; Hingham, Mass.  

Christopher Pemberton; LB; 17; Chandler, Ariz.  

Tyler Raphino; DL; 19; Randolph, Mass.  

Liam Reamer; OL; 18; Canonsburg, Pa.  

Demetrius Steptoe; DB; 18; Goliad, Texas  

Tapuloa Tusi; OL; 19; Tacoma, Wash.  

Kekulani Vaenuku; OL; 17; Humble, Texas  

Oliver Van Dyke; WR; 19; Winter Park, Fla.  

Bryce Werner; WR; 17; Philadelphia, Pa.  

Jerry Wheeler; OL; 19; Cypress, Texas  

Jordan Whitley; LB; 18; Houston, Texas  

Bryce Williams; DB; 17; Telford, Pa. 

U.S. National Team Coaching Staff 

Shawn Liotta, General Manager 

Mike Kelly, Head Coach 

Manny Matsakis, Offensive Coordinator & Wide Receivers Coach 

Myron Blueford, Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Line Coach 

William Lund, Special Teams Coordinator & Linebackers Coach 

PeeJay Jack, Quarterbacks Coach 

Randy Walters, Running Backs Coach 

Jim Phillips, Offensive Line Coach 

Michael Patterson, Defensive Backs Coach 

About USA Football: USA Football is the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football, and a recognized sports organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its non-profit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including tackle and flag football. USA Football is the only organization that selects and organizes men’s and women’s U.S. National Teams in federation-sanctioned international competition.