Back-to-back All-League First Team defender returns to captain Knoxville for third season | Image Credit: Lexington SC
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - One Knoxville SC today announced it has re-signed back-to-back USL League One All-League First Team defender and USL League One Defender of the Year finalist Jordan Skelton, pending league and federation approval.
The Newcastle, England native played collegiately in the United States at NCAA Division II's Lander University from 2015 to 2018. In 2017 and 2018, Skelton played in USL League Two with Mississippi Brilla FC. After spending the 2019 League Two season with South Georgia Tormenta FC 2, the defender signed his first professional contract with Tormenta FC's USL League One team later that year.
Following a pair of League One seasons in Statesboro, Skelton returned to USL League Two with Des Moines Menace, captaining the side to a League Two title in 2021. Skelton returned to the professional ranks with North Carolina FC for the 2022 League One season.
NCFC transferred its captain to One Knoxville SC ahead of the latter's debut League One campaign in 2023. Skelton has captained Knoxville across his two seasons with the club, notably leading the 3-year-old side to its first professional postseason appearance in 2024 and earning All-League First Team honors and Defender of the Year nominations in both seasons.
Across a combined 101 USL League One appearances for South Georgia, North Carolina and Knoxville, Skelton has accumulated the most clearances in league history (551) and is among the top three players all-time in blocks (88) and aerial duels won (346).