Rodney Michael signs pro soccer contract with Tormenta FC USL 1 after outstanding UCSB career

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Rodney Michael was training to come back for a fourth college soccer season at UCSB but an opportunity to go pro was too good to pass up.

The native of Sierra Leone in West Africa signs with South Georgia Tormenta FC of the United States Soccer League One.

They play in the third tier of the American soccer pyramid.

Michael had been playing with Tormenta FC 2 which is their pre-professional team but he was playing well and an international slot became available with Tormenta FC 1.

The forward with great speed with the ball had a terrific three seasons with UCSB, scoring 23 total goals.

He helped the Gauchos advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in the 2019 season.

He came to UCSB from Dunn High School in Los Olivos where he was awarded the Gatorade California Boys Soccer Player of the Year for the 2016-'17 school year.

Rodney Michael leaves for Georgia this weekend and he hopes to make his pro debut next week.