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Major League Soccer’s yearly selection of college players takes place tomorrow. Yes, The SuperDraft is tomorrow. Seriously. Even for the most die-hard of soccer followers and MLS fans, college soccer is a relative unknown. The Dynamo currently hold the 8th pick in Thursday’s first round, so let’s take a look at a few players who could be putting on orange jerseys (in Houston or the Valley) this upcoming season.
M Ryan Raposo, Syracuse
A Generation Adidas player, Raposo scored 15 goals and added 7 assists for Syracuse as a sophomore in 2019. The Canadian youth international is considered one of the players in this draft with the biggest upside and could possibly go before the Dynamo’s pick. Raposo can play wide or centrally and has great attacking traits.
D Tanner Beason, Stanford
Beason has already signed with MLS as a Generation Adidas player after leading the Cardinal to NCAA titles in 2016 and 2017. His size and skillset give Beason the ability to play anywhere on defense, at outside back or center back. He has not played since October due to injury but is fully healthy now. Beason is lauded for his leadership and could be a good piece on the back-line.
F Cal Jennings, Central Florida
Jennings is a finisher, plain and simple. He scored 14 times in 15 games as a junior and added 18 in 20 in his senior season for the Golden Knights. Jennings’ biggest goal was his OT strike in November that sent Central Florida to their first Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in school history.
F Garrett McLaughlin, SMU
If Mauro Manotas is on the block, as has been reported, a young forward makes a lot of sense for the Dynamo. Like Jennings, McLaughlin scored a number of goals in college, 16 in 2019. McLaughlin’s speed could also allow him to be a wide player as a pro and he could be a great fit in a 4-3-3.
M Jeremy Kelly, North Carolina
Kelly played both in central midfield and at outside back, which could make him a valuable piece to a Dynamo team needing depth in both areas. Kelly was born in Prague, Czech Republic and lived in France until he was 10.