PHOTO/CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE

Charlotte Independence goalkeeper Cody Mizell had an opportunity to play and train with Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids before being loaned out to the USL side.

Cody Mizell has been busy.

Between signing his first MLS contract and getting married during the USL offseason, the Charlotte Independence goalkeeper has had little downtime. Colorado, Charlotte’s MLS affiliate, acquired Mizell on loan on March 3.

“I had a crazy offseason,” Mizell said. “I got married this offseason, which was fantastic. Getting a call from Colorado early on, the goal right now is to play in MLS and be at that level. Obviously, getting the opportunity and taking advantage of the opportunity, you can’t ask for anything more.”

Mizell made Colorado’s bench in the MLS opener against New England when keeper Zac MacMath started in place of Tim Howard, who was out after right adductor longus surgery. Mizell’s technically a Colorado player, but has been sent to Charlotte to see playing time.

“Colorado was a great experience,” Mizell said. “It’s good to be out there with the MLS guys. They’ve got two of the top goalkeepers in MLS with Tim Howard, one of the best goalkeepers in U.S. history and then Zac MacMath having over 100 MLS appearances, you learn so much from them. Then with [John Berner], we know JB from down here. It’s good working with all three of them. Getting games in preseason and doing well enough to earn an MLS contract it’s fantastic.”

Said Independence coach Mike Jeffries: “It’s good to have Cody back. He’s an integral part of our group. He’s coming back sharper in terms of getting the work that he got with preseason, the opportunity to play a few games with them, but more importantly, the opportunity to work with Chris Sharpe the goalkeeping trainer and alongside Tim Howard and Zac MacMath. That’s a tremendous learning opportunity for Cody.”

Mizell has been involved with the Independence since the beginning. While he did not sign with the club for their inaugural season in 2015, he did train with them before signing with Knattspyrnufélagi Fram, a club in Iceland.

“He was always a very good shot stopper,” Jeffries said. “He’s tremendously athletic. I think he’s even improved in that area additionally. His ability to read plays and make decisions is considerably better than where he was a couple of years ago—when to come for balls, what angles to take, etc. His feet have gotten better, his ability to play out of the back has certainly improved.”

Said defender Bilal Duckett: “Even though he didn’t windup signing here in year one, he’s well been here from the start. We’re very happy that he’s had his opportunity with Colorado, and that they think very highly of him, but we’re also very happy to have him back here with us.”

Modeling his style after German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, Mizell has a commanding presence in goal.  

“I’m a very passionate guy, and I’m very competitive,” Mizell said. “One of the guys that I loved watching when I was really young was Oliver Kahn [German goalkeeper]. He’s such a passionate goalkeeper. I loved his reaction when he’d make big saves. It’s what I like to do. I love the game. I love goalkeeping. I love making big saves. I love winning. Oliver Kahn is one of the guys who I thought was just class with all of that.”

A Georgia native, Mizell’s career has taken him all over the world. His first U.S. under-17 national team appearance came in France against England, which led to an opportunity with English Premier League side West Ham.

“When I was younger, I went over and trained with West Ham for a little while,” Mizell said. “I got to train with the Hammers youth squad for a little bit in the academy—did a couple finishing sessions with the reserves. Again, good experience. You can’t replicate that from anything else.”

Following his time in England, he went onto play with Clemson and later in the NASL with the Atlanta Silverbacks and Tampa Bay Rowdies.

“Clemson, to me, is the best NCAA college program in the country,” Mizell said. “Just ability-wise, academic-wise, just football-wise—they know what they’re doing, and they keep it at a very professional, serious level.”

At 25 years old, Mizell’s next step is a permanent move to MLS.

“Being back down here on loan, playing with these guys, getting games that’s what I need right now,” he said. “I’m still young and still learning every day. … That’s the end goal—to get there and to play there  and to be the best. If you’re not striving to be the best, what are you trying to be?”

Said Duckett: “He’s been patient for his chances, and everything that he’s gotten and every bit of success that he’s had so far has been deserved. He’s coming and grinded through situations that weren’t always ideal for him. I’ve seen players go the opposite direction with it, but he was still an incredibly positive person in the locker room throughout all of it.”

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