NAPLES, Fla. - FC Naples today announced the signing of 26-year-old defender and 2022 USL League One champion, Jake Dengler, pending league and federation approval. Since 2021, Dengler has made over 100 professional appearances between South Georgia Tormenta FC and Maryland Bobcats FC.

"Jake is a proven defender in the league and a champion," said Naples Head Coach Matt Poland. "His leadership and play will be important as we lay the foundation for our inaugural season."

A Baltimore, Md. native, Dengler began his soccer journey at The John Carroll School and with Pipeline Soccer Club, where he won the USYSA State Cup, Regional, and National Championships in 2016. He captained Baltimore Armour to their first USSDA playoff appearance, earning recognition on the 2016-17 USSDA Best XI.

Dengler immediately made an impact during college, starting at the Community College of Baltimore County in 2017. In a standout season, he scored 11 goals and totaled three assists in his 20 appearances, earning NJCAA All-America honors and leading his team to regional and state championships. He continued his college career at Loyola University Maryland in 2018 and later transferred to the University of Connecticut in 2019, making a combined 32 appearances. During this time, Dengler also played for FC Baltimore Christos in the National Premier Soccer League, scoring four goals in 17 appearances in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Dengler’s professional career kicked off in 2020 with the USL Championship's Loudoun United FC, later transitioning to NISA's Maryland Bobcats FC, where he was named the club's Most Valuable Player in 2021.

In 2022, Dengler signed with South Georgia Tormenta FC in USL League One. That year, he played a pivotal role in leading the team to victory in the USL League One Final and was named to the All-League Second Team. Over his three seasons with the Ibises, Dengler made 66 league appearances, serving as a consistent presence on the backline and captaining the team in 16 matches during the 2024 season.