Defender

USL Academy Signing
Position: Defender
Birthday: November 18, 2006
Hometown: Clearwater, FL
Youth Experience: Clearwater Chargers, St. Petersburg FC

Tita joined the Rowdies on a USL Academy contract for the 2026 USL Championship season. The local defender previously played for Clearwater Chargers and St. Petersburg FC. Tita has been a regular with the Rowdies development team, Tampa Bay Rowdies 2, since it launched in late 2025.

Position: Defender
Birthday: April 17, 2002
Hometown: Atlantic Beach, FL
Height: 6’3”
College: University of South Florida
On Loan From: FC Cincinnati

Schaefer joined the Rowdies on loan from FC Cincinnati early in the 2026 presason. Although new to the Rowdies, Schaefer is no stranger to Tampa Bay. He played four years of college soccer at the University of South Florida, netting five goals across 53 appearances for the Bulls.

In 2024, FC Cincinnati selected Schaefer as the 27th overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft and eventually signed him to a professional contract with the club’s MLS Next Pro side, FC Cincinnati 2. Schaefer led the club in minutes played during his rookie season in 2024 and has earned 50 appearances and registered five goals across all competitions over his two seasons with Cincinnati 2. Schaefer also gained experience in the USL Championship while on loan to Indy Eleven for the final two months of the 2025 regular season. Prior to his move to Tampa Bay, Schaefer inked a contract with Cincinatti’s MLS squad.

Position: Defender/Wingback
Birthday: September 23, 1991
Hometown: Upland, California
Height: 5’9”
College: Creighton University & UC Santa Barbara
Previous Club: Union Omaha

Acoff joined Tampa Bay following four fruitful seasons with Union Omaha in USL League One. Acoff recorded 110 appearances across all competitions for Omaha and helped the club claim back-to-back USL League One Players’ Shield and victory in the 202 USL League One Final. He earned a spot on the USL League All-League Second Team for his efforts during the 2023 season.

A native of California, Acoff played two seasons at Creighton University before transferring back to his home state to finish his college career at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

In 2015, Acoff signed his first professional contract in Iceland with Knattspyrnufélagið Þróttur. He made 40 appearances and tallied nine goals over two seasons with Þróttur. He also played a part in Knattspyrnufélagið Valur being crowned Icelandic Champions in 2017 and 2018. While at Valur, Acoff also featured in eight Europe League Qualifying matches for the club.

Position: Defender/Wingback
Birthday: October 12, 1999
Hometown: Richmond Beach, Washington
Height: 5’8”
College: University of Washington
Previous Club: Union Omaha

Ostrem joins Tampa Bay following a breakout season with Union Omaha which saw him win the USL League One Golden Playmaker award after recording a league-best 10 assists across the 2025 regular season. He also earned a spot on the USL League One All-League Second Team for his outstanding contributions during the season.

Ostrem played college soccer at the University of Washington. He was a standout player during his four-year career with the Huskies, earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors in his junior season and a spot on the All-Pac-12 First Team in his senior season.

The Chicago Fire selected Ostrem in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft before securing him to a contract with Chicago Fire II in MLS Next Pro. Ostrem notched 5 goals and 8 assists over 2 seasons in MLS Next Pro before moving on in 2024 to sign with Western Suburbs FC in New Zeeland’s second division, where he netted three goals in 14 appearances. 

Position: Defender/Wingback
Birthday: May 29, 2000
Hometown: Livingston, New Jersey
Height: 5’10”
Youth Experience: New York Red Bulls Academy
Previous Club: Las Vegas Lights FC

Nigro joins the Rowdies following two seasons out west with Las Vegas Lights FC, where he appeared in 66 matches across all competitions. Nigro led Las Vegas in the 2025 regular season with 7 assists.

A native of New Jersey, Nigro developed with New York Red Bulls Academy prior to signing with Serie A side AS Roma in 2018. He appeared in 20 matches for AS Roma’s reserve team over two seasons. Nigro then moved on to Potenza Calcio in Italy’s third division, earning 27 appearances across two seasons.

In 2022, Nigro returned to the United States to sign for Real Monarchs, where he made 17 appearances and recorded two assists in two seasons for the MLS Next Pro outfit. Nigro also appeared in a friendly for Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake against Liga MX’s Atlas FC in the 2022 Leagues Cup Showcase. Following a loan spell with ADO Den Haag in the Netherlands in late 2023, Nigro joined Las Vegas ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season and helped the club secure its first playoff berth.

Position: Defender
Birthday: June 15, 1998
Hometown: Troyes, France
Height: 6’2”
College: University of Central Florida & University of Pittsburgh
Previous Club: Loudoun United FC

Leerman joined the Rowdies following three seasons as a regular contributor for Loudoun United FC, where he appeared in 86 matches across all competitions. Leerman signed his first professional contract with Loudoun United FC ahead of the 2023 USL Championship season. In his first season in the professional ranks, Leerman led the club in clearances, interceptions, and aerial duels won with an 85.7% passing accuracy rate over 28 league appearances.

Leerman developed as an academy player for French side Troyes during his youth. In 2018, the Frenchman moved to the United States to play college soccer at the University of Central Florida, where he made 60 appearances over four seasons for the Golden Knights. The Chicago Fire selected Leerman in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, but the Frenchman chose to continue his college career for one more year as a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh.

Position: Defender
Birthday: April 11, 1999
Hometown: Oakville Ontario, Canada
Height: 5’11”
College: Duquesne University & Marshall University
Previous Club: Charleston Battery

Dossantos joins the Rowdies after spending the past two seasons with the Charleston Battery, where he tallied three goals and three assists in 73 appearances across all competitions.

Prior to Charleston, Dossantos was with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC from 2022-23. He made 56 appearances across all competitions for Pittsburgh during his first two seasons as a professional, helping the club secure its first USL Championship Players’ Shield in 2023.

Dossantos played two seasons at Duquesne University before transferring to Marshall University, where he won the 2020 NCAA College Cup with Rowdies teammates, Pedro Dolabella and Max Schneider. Dossantos also earned several individual accolades during his time at Marshall, including a spot on the 2020 NCAA All-Tournament Team in 2020 and 2021 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. 

Position: Defender
Birthday: January 8, 1996
Hometown: Port of Spain, Trinidad
Height: 6’4”
College: College of Charleston
Previous Club: Charleston Battery
International Experience: Trinidad and Tobago U17s, Trinidad and Tobago U20s, Trinidad and Tobago National Team

The 2026 season marks Archer’s first season away from Charleston. All eight of his previous seasons in the professional ranks have been spent with the Charleston Battery. He departed the Battery with 195 appearances across all competitions, ranking second all-time in the club’s history. His breaksout season as a professional came in 2020, when he earned a spot on the USL Championship All-League Second Team. In 2023, Archer anchored the Battery’s back line to an Eastern Conference title and another appearance in the conference final the following year.

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Archer moved to the United States to play college soccer at the College of Charleston. Archer also furthered his development during his college years as a player for South Georgia Tormenta FC in USL League Two.

In 2021, Archer made his debut for the Trinidad and Tobago National Team in a friendly against the United States.

USL Academy Signing
Position: Defender
Birthday: November 20, 2006
Hometown: Miami, FL
Height: 5’9”
Youth Experience: Florida Premier FC

Rodriguez for his second season with the Rowdies as a USL Academy signing after earning seven appearances across all competitions in 2025. Originally from Miami, Rodriguez developed locally with Florida Premier FC.