Atlanta United announced today it has signed defender Garrison Tubbs as a Homegrown Player for the 2024 season with options through 2027. Tubbs came through the Atlanta United Academy before spending the past four seasons at Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse Wake Forest University. During the 2023 season, he was named a First-Team All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
“Garrison has earned this Homegrown contract with his play on the field over the past several seasons,” Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said. “He joined our Academy at the U-17 level and steadily progressed through our ranks, earning playing time with Atlanta United 2 before going to college. He then joined a great program at Wake Forest and has continued to improve year over year. We always talk about the different pathways to earning a professional contract and every player has to find the path that works for them. Garrison excelled at Wake Forest for four seasons and has earned this opportunity.”
Tubbs, 21, spent the past four seasons with the Demon Deacons, where he played in 68 matches, including 66 starts. The Brunswick, Ga. native came to Wake Forest during the pandemic 2020 season and started 12 of 13 matches that season. He made an immediate impact earning All-ACC Freshman Team selection and being named the team’s Freshman of the Year. The following season, Tubbs started 20 of 21 matches and had an offensive breakout year with one goal and five assists. He played a career-high 1,728 minutes that season as Wake Forest made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA College Cup.
In 2022, the defender played and started in 16 matches, tallying one goal. During his final season at Wake Forest this past season, Tubbs started 18 matches and earned several accolades for his play. He was voted the 2023 ACC Defender of the Year and earned United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American recognition. He has been named a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, the award recognizing the nation’s top player, ACC First-Team selection and the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First-Team selection. All four of his career goals at Wake Forest were game-winning strikes for the Demon Deacons.
Prior to college, Tubbs was a member of Atlanta United’s U-17s, U-19s and played 12 matches with Atlanta United 2 in the USL Championship. His professional debut came on July 28, 2019 when he came on as a substitute against North Carolina FC. His first start came about a month later on Aug. 24 against Hartford Athletic. He made 10 starts in his 12 appearances with ATL UTD 2.
Player Profile
Name: Garrison Tubbs
Position: Defender
Height: 6-2
Birthdate: Feb. 17, 2002 (Age: 21)
Birthplace: Brunswick, Georgia
Nationality: United States
Transaction: Atlanta United signed Garrison Tubbs as a Homegrown Player for the 2024 season with options through 2027 on Dec. 15, 2023.
Atlanta United roster (as of Dec. 15, 2023)
Goalkeepers (2): Josh Cohen, Brad Guzan
Defenders (8): Luis Abram, Noah Cobb, Ronald Hernández, Brooks Lennon, Aiden McFadden, Efraín Morales, Garrison Tubbs, Caleb Wiley
Midfielders (11): Thiago Almada, Derrick Etienne Jr., Nick Firmino, Ajani Fortune, Franco Ibarra, Saba Lobjanidze, Edwin Mosquera, Tristan Muyumba, Santiago Sosa, Adyn Torres, Tyler Wolff
Forwards (5): Luke Brennan*, Erik Centeno, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Xande Silva, Jamal Thiaré
*Player will join Atlanta United effective Jan. 1, 2024
