Gardner appears in third place among the forwards and in seventh place overall in our Class of 2027 State Rankings. He plays for the Houston Dynamo , splitting his time between their II team in the MLS Next Pro League and their U19 team in the MLS Next. Gardner is an athletic and well-rounded wide player who can play anywhere on the right, from outside back to winger. His offensive game is built on his ability to push the ball forward and attack the space in front of him, but he’s also skilled enough to beat opponents off the dribble and deliver accurate crosses into the box. Gardner is improving his defensive side as of late, but he has solid foundations, playing with great determination and making strong actions to stop plays out wide.

Gardner was listed as the third-best forward in Texas and the seventh most promising prospect in the state. He’s part of the Houston Dynamo Academy, featuring for their U19 team in the MLS Next League and also appearing for their Dos team at MLS Next Pro. An athletic and dynamic wide player, Gardner can play anywhere on the right side, standing out for his pace and ability to progress the ball. He was recently called up for the US U17 national team and saw his stock rise with excellent performances. Very difficult to stop when he gets going, the winger also has solid dribbling skills and is capable of delivering accurate crosses into the penalty box. He has good tactical discipline, too, tracking back and playing defense with solid determination.

A physical and dynamic wide player, Gardner plays up with the Dynamo’s U19 team and has an important role with them. Normally used as a winger, he has great pace and is very strong in 1v1 plays, using his explosiveness to go at defenders and create chances from wide spots. Gardner is a good finisher and does a good job of getting into the penalty box to finish chances, often registering goals for the team. He plays defense with great energy and intensity and can also be used as an outside back, providing quality going forward and strength on defense.

Playing on the left side of the Dynamo’s attack, Gardner was a constant threat with his high work rate and explosiveness on the ball. In the first half, he was a little bit isolated out wide, but still managed to create chances with strong runs and smart dribbling around the box. In the second half, he got more support from midfield and engaged in good combination plays. Garder was very aggressive with his press and was rewarded by scoring the team’s fifth goal after winning possession just outside the Rangers’ box. He ended the match playing left back and displayed good energy and ability to play defense.

Gardner started the match on the right wing and had some good runs out there, even though he couldn’t connect a good cross or pass. When Estrada was sent off, he moved to right back and continued to have a strong game there. Gardner was very important defensively for the Dynamo, consistently tracking back to help on defense when he was playing on the wing and using his physicality to win duels when he was helping at outside back. He was also very important in the team’s comeback because of his vocal leadership and he kept encouraging his teammates and suggesting adjustments until they found their best shape to push for the comeback.