Cal Jennings

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Cal Jennings

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Caleb Jennings

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|5|17}}

| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, United States

| height = {{convert|1.80|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |title=Cal Jennings |url=https://www.lafc.com/players/cal-jennings/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |publisher=Los Angeles FC}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Charleston Battery

| clubnumber = 26

| youthyears1 = 2015–2016

| youthclubs1 = Georgia United

| collegeyears1 = 2016–2019

| college1 = UCF Knights

| collegecaps1 = 66

| collegegoals1 = 45

| years1 = 2020

| clubs1 = Memphis 901

| caps1 = 14

| goals1 = 9

| years2 = 2021

| clubs2 = Indy Eleven

| caps2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2021–2022

| clubs3 = Los Angeles FC

| caps3 = 9

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2021–2022

| clubs4 = → Las Vegas Lights (loan)

| caps4 = 45

| goals4 = 22

| years5 = 2023–2024

| clubs5 = Tampa Bay Rowdies

| caps5 = 64

| goals5 = 34

| years6 = 2025–

| clubs6 = Charleston Battery

| caps6 = 4

| goals6 = 4

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| club-update = April 6, 2025

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Cal Jennings (born May 17, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Charleston Battery in the USL Championship.

Early life and college

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Jennings attended Roswell High School where he played two seasons for the school's soccer team.{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Joe |title=Pro soccer team drafts Roswell graduate Cal Jennings |url=https://www.appenmedia.com/sports/pro-soccer-team-drafts-roswell-graduate-cal-jennings/article_3f41417a-3c9b-11ea-90dd-6f356d75b6c7.html |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=Appen Media |date=January 21, 2020}} He also spent a season with U.S. Soccer Development Academy club Georgia United.

After graduating high school, Jennings enrolled at the University of Central Florida and joined the UCF Knights college soccer team. He made his debut on August 26, 2016, against the Grand Canyon Antelopes.{{cite web |title=Cal Jennings - UCF Knights 2017 |url=https://ucfknights.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/cal-jennings/5668 |website=UCF Knights}} He scored his first and only goal of his freshman season on October 8 against the Memphis Tigers in a 2–3 defeat. During the 2017 season, Jennings scored 7 goals in 16 matches. The next season, Jennings had a breakout season, scoring 20 goals and starting all 18 matches for the Knights.{{cite web |title=Cal Jennings - 2019 |url=https://ucfknights.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/cal-jennings/8071 |website=UCF Knights}} He ended the season tied as the NCAA Division I top-scorer.

During his final season with the Knights, Jennings scored 18 goals in 20 matches, earning several individual accolades. He was named a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy for the 2019 season.

Club career

=Memphis 901=

On January 9, 2020, Jennings was selected with the 17th overall pick by FC Dallas in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.{{cite news |last1=Melcer |first1=Garrett |title=Cal Jennings: Profiling the No. 17 Pick of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft |url=https://www.fcdallas.com/post/2020/01/09/cal-jennings-profiling-no-17-pick-2020-mls-superdraft |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=FC Dallas |date=January 9, 2020}} However, in late February, he was released from the club's pre-season camp without earning a first-team contract.{{cite news |last1=Carrick |first1=Buzz |title=No first team FC Dallas contract for Cal Jennings |url=https://3rddegree.net/no-first-team-fc-dallas-contract-for-cal-jennings |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=3rd Degree |date=February 25, 2020}} A few months later, on July 13, Jennings joined USL Championship club Memphis 901.{{cite news |title=MEMPHIS 901 FC SIGNS TWO PLAYERS FOR RETURN TO PLAY |url=https://www.memphis901fc.com/news_article/show/1113133 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=Memphis 901 FC |date=July 13, 2020 |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918143632/https://www.memphis901fc.com/news_article/show/1113133 |url-status=dead }}

Jennings made his professional debut for Memphis 901 on July 15, coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute during a 3–0 defeat against Birmingham Legion.{{cite web |title=Birmingham Legion 3–0 Memphis 901 |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2020/07/16/united-states/mls-reserve-league/birmingham-legion/memphis-901/3284046/ |website=Soccerway}} He then scored his first goal for the club on July 18 against Atlanta United 2 during a 2–2 draw.{{cite web |title=Atlanta United 2 2–2 Memphis 901 |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2020/07/19/united-states/mls-reserve-league/atlanta-united-2/memphis-901/3284053/ |website=Soccerway}}

Jennings ended his first season scoring a hat-trick on October 3 against Birmingham Legion. His three goals helped the club to a 3–1 victory.{{cite web |title=Memphis 901 3–1 Birmingham Legion |url=https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2020/10/04/united-states/mls-reserve-league/memphis-901/birmingham-legion/3284290/ |website=Soccerway}} This was part of a scoring run in which Jennings scored in four games in a row, netting eight goals.{{cite news |last1=Varlas |first1=John |title=Jennings bags a hat trick as 901 FC closes disappointing year with gratifying victory |url=https://dailymemphian.com/article/17277/jennings-bags-a-hat-trick-as-901-fc-closes |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=Daily Memphian |date=October 3, 2020}}

=Los Angeles FC=

On December 4, 2020, Jennings joined USL Championship club Indy Eleven for the 2021 season.{{cite news |title=FORWARD CAL JENNINGS FIRST NEW SIGNING FOR 2021 SEASON |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news_article/show/1135732 |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=Indy Eleven |date=December 4, 2020}} However, on March 9, 2021, it was announced that Jennings had signed with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC without playing a game for Indy Eleven.{{cite news |title=LAFC Acquires 23-Year-Old Forward Cal Jennings |url=https://www.lafc.com/post/2021/03/09/lafc-acquires-23-year-old-forward-cal-jennings |access-date=March 9, 2021 |work=Los Angeles FC |date=March 9, 2021}} To make the signing, Los Angeles FC traded their natural third-round selection in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft for Jennings's college rights from FC Dallas. Following the 2022 season, Jennings was released by LAFC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lafc.com/news/lafc-announces-roster-moves-for-2023-season|title=LAFC Announces Roster Moves For 2023 Season | Los Angeles Football Club|website=LAFC}}

=Tampa Bay Rowdies=

On January 26, 2023, Jennings signed with USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1257042-cal-jennings-arrival-completes-tampa-bay-s-front-line-revamp|title=Cal Jennings' arrival completes Tampa Bay's front line revamp|first=NICHOLAS MURRAY-|last=nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com|date=January 26, 2023|website=USL Championship}} He left Tampa Bay following their 2024 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rowdiessoccer.com/news/2024/11/25/rowdies-announce-2024-end-of-year-roster-updates/|title=Rowdies Announce 2024 End of Year Roster Updates}}

=Charleston Battery=

On February 18, 2025, Jennings signed with USL Championship side Charleston Battery.https://www.charlestonbattery.com/news/2025/02/18/battery-sign-all-league-striker-cal-jennings-to-2025-roster/

Career statistics

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|National cup !colspan=2\|Other !colspan=2\|Total
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan=1\|Memphis 901 \|2020 \|USL Championship	14	9	—	—	—	—	14	9
rowspan=1\|Los Angeles FC \|2021 \|Major League Soccer	6	0	0	0	—	—	6	0
colspan=3\|Career total !20\|\|9\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|0\|\|20\|\|9