Caleb Porter Praises Revs II Talent

"We felt it was important to bring in the deserving Revs II players based on what Curt [Onalfo], Richie [Williams], Rob [Becerra], and obviously what we feel as well."

Photo By J. Alexander Dolan

The New England Revolution have been able to become a club that churns out young talent that is eventually sold abroad, that is why a select group of second team players joined the first team for the preseason down in Florida.

The likes of Malcolm Fry, Damario McIntosh, Eric Klein, Gevork Diarbian, Jayden Da, JD Gunn, Olger Escobar, Cristiano Oliveira, and Keegan Hughes joined the first team to get the opportunity to make a name for themselves while also building their fitness ahead of the 2025 season.

Head coach Caleb Porter highlighted the importance of being a “vertically integrated club” and rewarding young players who have performed well for the second team.

“We feel it is really important to have if we have a vertically integrated club,” Porter said. “It is important to keep tabs on the best players coming through the Academy and through Revs II, and we want to reward the best young players in our club and in our pro pathway. We felt it was important to bring in the deserving Revs II players based on what Curt [Onalfo], Richie [Williams], Rob [Becerra], and obviously what we feel as well. Ultimately, we are the ones who are going to decide if we like them and if we are going to bring them up – Curt, myself, Remi [Roy], and Chris Tierney. So, it is a great collaboration, and it is exciting.”

One of the most recent outgoing transfers highlights the talented young players that New England is attracting. Esmir Bajraktarevic was recently sold to PSV in a seven-figure deal.

Porter doesn’t expect this to be the last deal that New England is able to strike as sellers. The coach stated that deals like the one that the Revs made in selling Bajraktarevic.

“We are producing players,” Porter said. “We sold Esmir [Bajraktarević] this year, that is great for him and great for our club, and that is a part of our DNA in this club. I feel like there is a lot more down there with Revs II this year. We have gotten better, and they have gotten better, so that is a good sign. I won’t really give specifics too much, but there are some new, exciting players there that I am sure at some point I will divulge what I think about them.”

Revolution II is coming off one of the worst seasons in the second team’s history. The side coached by Richie Williams suffered 18 losses while only securing four wins.

Regardless of the results, the talent is still there. McIntosh signed a first team deal while the likes of Olger Escobar and Eric Klein are on the precipice of making the jump.

Porter has highlighted his ability to play young players such as Peyton Miller, Bajraktarevic and others throughout his head coaching career. While Jack Panayotou and Noel Buck were loaned out as they struggled to find playing time, 2025 will provide a new opportunity for them to try an earn minutes. Miller also has the potential to earn a starting spot at left back.

But it will be interesting to see what new young player Porter could call upon in the upcoming campaign.