Garrison Tubbs Signs Homegrown Contract with Atlanta United
12/15/2023 10:56:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The Brunswick, Ga., native appeared in 72 matches with 70 starts over the last four seasons while serving as an on-field leader for the 2023 ACC Atlantic Division champions.
ATLANTA -- Two-time Wake Forest men's soccer team captain, first-team All-American and 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Garrison Tubbs has signed a Homegrown contract with Atlanta United of the MLS, the organization announced on Friday.
Tubbs becomes the 10th Demon Deacon to sign a Homegrown Contract under head coach Bobby Muuss and the 13th Homegrown signing in program history. Homegrown signings under Muuss include 2016 Mac Hermann Trophy winner Ian Harkes, United State Men's National Team defender Mark McKenzie and 2023 MLS Cup Champion Isaiah Parente.
The 10 Homegrown signings since 2017 are also most in the country over the last six years.
"I cannot thank those that have supported me throughout my time at Wake Forest enough," Tubbs said. "From the immense support every season from The Congregation and fans at Spry, to the coaches, faculty and staff that have played a pivotal role in my development, I am grateful for all of those around me that have helped construct me into who I am today. I want to thank my teammates for pushing me everyday, as well as for all the endless memories that we have made that will last a lifetime. Wake Forest and Winston-Salem are truly special places, and they are now a part of who I am. Wake Forest will always be my home, I am proud to be a Demon Deacon for life. Go Deacs!"
"Garrison truly represented the best of Wake Forest men's soccer these last four seasons, earning numerous well-deserved accolades on the pitch while excelling academically and giving back to the Triad community through his continued community service efforts," Muuss said. "More so, he defines what it takes to be a Wake Forest student-athlete, graduating with his Finance degree in three-and-a-half years from the prestigious School of Business and being named an Academic All-American. Garrison has earned this opportunity with his first professional contract and I speak for our entire program when I say we could not be more excited to follow his continued success at the next level."
During the 2023 season, Tubbs started all 18 of his appearances to captain a Wake Forest team that clinched a fifth ACC Atlantic Division title in nine seasons. Playing 90 or more minutes 13 times, the Brunswick, Ga., native guided the Demon Deacon backline to seven clean sheets including four-straight in ACC play, tied for the longest shutout streak against conference opponents in the program's 43-year history.
He was named the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year, the only defender selected to the All-ACC First-Team, a United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American and a United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First-Team selection. Earlier this week, he was also named a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, an award given annually to the top college soccer player in the country.
For his career with the Deacs, Tubbs appeared in 72 matches with 70 starts to record 15 points off of seven assists and four goals, all of which were game-winning tallies. The Deacs also logged 28 clean sheets in his four seasons in Winston-Salem.
He served as a team captain for each of the last two seasons while helping push Wake Forest's ACC-best NCAA Tournament appearances streak to 13-straight seasons. The Deacs were also one of just two ACC programs with more than 50 wins over the last four years.
Wake Forest Homegrown Signings Under Muuss
Tubbs becomes the 10th Demon Deacon to sign a Homegrown Contract under head coach Bobby Muuss and the 13th Homegrown signing in program history. Homegrown signings under Muuss include 2016 Mac Hermann Trophy winner Ian Harkes, United State Men's National Team defender Mark McKenzie and 2023 MLS Cup Champion Isaiah Parente.
The 10 Homegrown signings since 2017 are also most in the country over the last six years.
"I cannot thank those that have supported me throughout my time at Wake Forest enough," Tubbs said. "From the immense support every season from The Congregation and fans at Spry, to the coaches, faculty and staff that have played a pivotal role in my development, I am grateful for all of those around me that have helped construct me into who I am today. I want to thank my teammates for pushing me everyday, as well as for all the endless memories that we have made that will last a lifetime. Wake Forest and Winston-Salem are truly special places, and they are now a part of who I am. Wake Forest will always be my home, I am proud to be a Demon Deacon for life. Go Deacs!"
"Garrison truly represented the best of Wake Forest men's soccer these last four seasons, earning numerous well-deserved accolades on the pitch while excelling academically and giving back to the Triad community through his continued community service efforts," Muuss said. "More so, he defines what it takes to be a Wake Forest student-athlete, graduating with his Finance degree in three-and-a-half years from the prestigious School of Business and being named an Academic All-American. Garrison has earned this opportunity with his first professional contract and I speak for our entire program when I say we could not be more excited to follow his continued success at the next level."
During the 2023 season, Tubbs started all 18 of his appearances to captain a Wake Forest team that clinched a fifth ACC Atlantic Division title in nine seasons. Playing 90 or more minutes 13 times, the Brunswick, Ga., native guided the Demon Deacon backline to seven clean sheets including four-straight in ACC play, tied for the longest shutout streak against conference opponents in the program's 43-year history.
He was named the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year, the only defender selected to the All-ACC First-Team, a United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American and a United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First-Team selection. Earlier this week, he was also named a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, an award given annually to the top college soccer player in the country.
For his career with the Deacs, Tubbs appeared in 72 matches with 70 starts to record 15 points off of seven assists and four goals, all of which were game-winning tallies. The Deacs also logged 28 clean sheets in his four seasons in Winston-Salem.
He served as a team captain for each of the last two seasons while helping push Wake Forest's ACC-best NCAA Tournament appearances streak to 13-straight seasons. The Deacs were also one of just two ACC programs with more than 50 wins over the last four years.
Wake Forest Homegrown Signings Under Muuss
- Garrison Tubbs, Atlanta United (2023)
- Nico Benalcazar, New York City FC (2022)
- Machop Chol, Atlanta United (2021)
- Isaiah Parente, Columbus Crew (2021)
- Omir Fernandez, New York Red Bulls (2019)
- Sam Raben, Colorado Rapids (2019)
- Mark McKenzie, Philadelphia Union (2018)
- Kevin Politz, New York Red Bulls (2018)
- Brandon Servania, FC Dallas (2018)
- Ian Harkes, D.C. United (2017)
- 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist
- 2023 United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American
- 2023 ACC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2023 All-ACC First-Team Selection
- 2023 United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First-Team Selection
- 2023 Mac Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
- ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 17, 2023)
- 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List
- 2023 United Soccer Coaches Watch List: Defenders
- 2023 College Soccer News Preseason First-Team All-American
- 2023 TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Third-Team Best XI
- 2022-23 Edwin G. Wilson Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- 2022-23 Walt Chyzowych's Award for Leadership & Character
- 2022-23 ACC Academic Honor Roll
- 2022 United Soccer Coaches First-Team Scholar All-American
- 2022 United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First-Team Selection
- 2022 All-ACC Second-Team Selection
- 2022 All-ACC Academic Team Selection
- 2022 TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 (No. 94)
- ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 13, 2022)
- 2021-22 ACC Academic Honor Roll
- 2021 All-ACC Academic Team Selection
- TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week (Sept. 21, 2021)
- 2020-21 ACC Academic Honor Roll
- 2020 All-ACC Freshman Team Selection
- 2020 All-ACC Academic Team Selection
- 2020 Wake Forest Male Freshman of the Year
- 2020-21 TopDrawerSoccer Freshman Best XI First-Team Selection
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's SoccerSept. 27, 2025: Coach Jake Dickert Postgame Press Conference Following Game vs. Georgia Tech
Sunday, September 28
Wake Forest Football | Georgia Tech Trailer
Friday, September 26
Football Media Availability (9/24/25)
Wednesday, September 24
Football Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23