After a couple of average seasons in the midfield ranks, including last year when there was some solid defensive guys but no real attacking flare, we now get a season that is shaping up to have some serious skill. This might be the best midfield group since I started doing rankings and I feel confident it is at least the best class since 2006.
Thanks for this bumper crop is due to a good set of seniors who passed on Generation adidas deals in the last few years, combined with some real top notch players that are taking early Ga deals this year. All in all it means we might be seeing some serious talent well through the early rounds.
If I have video on a player I will post it below him. I had about 30 more names I was tracking, but I figure 60 is deep enough. If someone past this gets picked then my bad. You’re guy not on here? Then make your case.
“The next Sharlie Joseph” tag he’s earned only tells you a little bit about this sophomore. A massive 6′4,” Tchani has frequently dominated the ACC for his first two season. ACC Freshman of the Year in 2008, multiple All-American nods this year, and 17 goals and 7 assists in two season. Tchani can and will play multiple spots at the next level, but I think he’ll start his career as a deep lying midfielder. Tough as nails and big, he scares the crud out of people and has real skills on top. He should be ready to start the minute he walks into a MLS camp. He’s been reported to have signed with MLS, but it is not yet official. Tchani has the talent to go #1 overall.
MLS Combine.
2009: Herman Semi-Finalist, First Team All-American, Soccer American Second Team MVP, College Soccer News First Team, Goal.com First Team, ACC Second Team.
2008: Top Drawer Soccer All-Rookie First Team, ACC Freshman of the Year, ACC Second Team, ACC All-Freshman Team
This junior is the best pure attacking talent to come out of the college game in a several years. He’s had discussions with MLS every year he’s been in college but stayed at Wake for the outstanding tactical development in their program. Phenomenal ball skills and passing vision, Bone may take a season to get 100% in the flow with MLS but expect him to be running a team from the middle in the pure #10 style before to long. 2007 ACC Freshman of the Year and two First Team All-American nods since.
MLS Combine.
2009: Herman Semi-Finalist, First Team All-American, Soccer American First Team MVP, Top Drawer Soccer First Team, College Soccer News First Team, Goal.com First Team, ACC Player of the Year, First Team.
2008: First Team All-American, Soccer American Second Team MVP, College Soccer News Second Team, ACC First Team.
2007: ACC Freshman of the Year, All-Freshman Team. #3 recruit Rise Mag
US U20, Solar SC (Dallas, TX)
2006 Parade Magazine High School Player of the Year
The most complete and ready to go senior in the pool and a dogged, hard nosed, pure ball winner. He also should be ready to start in MLS day one. By comparison offers less going forward than last year’s senior gem Sam Cronin but is a better defender and tackler. Great size at 6′3″ and tactically savvy enough for the modern pro midfield. The big Fin was 2006 Big East Rookie of the Year in 2006, and First Team Big East every year since. 2009 Big East Midfielder of the Year and Second Team All-American.
MLS Combine.
2009: Herman Semi-Finalist, Second Team All-American, Top Drawer Soccer Second Team, College Soccer News Second Team, Big East Midfielder of the Year, First Team (Unam).
2008: Big East First Team (Unam).
2007: Big East First Team.
2006: Big East Rookie of the Year, Third Team
4
Dilly Duka
Rutgers
So
5′9″
160
A Generation adidas signing confirmed by MLS, Duka is a former Red Bulls youth player and really vaulted his status with his tremendous performance at the U20 World Championships. Technically a sophomore, Duka skipped this season at Rutgers to focus on the Worlds and has only played one season of college ball. The creative force in the U20 midfield, Duka has terrific vision and field awareness. He’s capable of making the special play to win games. A touch younger. Duka probably isn’t ready to make an immediate impact in MLS, but in a couple seasons should really be excelling in MLS.
A US U18 and U20, this deep lying junior holding mid has the vision to be a playmaker from deep. He’s is the anchor in the tremendous Zips midfield that allows their attacking force great freedom. Gavin is the second midfield Generation adidas signing confirmed by MLS. The 6′0″ Gavin is a two-time First Team All-Mid-American Conference. Gavin scored five goals this season, three of which game winners, and added three assists while leading a defensive unit that had 19 shutouts, the second highest shutout total in NCAA history.
MLS Combine.
2009: Mid-American Conference First Team. 2008: Mid-American Conference First Team
The first of two Bruin seniors who’s Generation adidas offers in previous years didn’t come to fruition and thus enrich this class, Stephens held talks with MLS last year only to have it fall apart late in the process. He’s a bit of a cautionary tale as he’s likely going to have cost himself draft status and a bunch of money by staying for one more season. The somewhat lackluster senior season combined with no roster protection means Stephens will have to compete for a senior roster spot in MLS and could wind up with only a developmental spot depending on who picks him. 2008 Pac 10 Player of the Year, only the third such honor in UCLA’s storied history. Only seven assists this year for Stephens this year after leading the Pac 10 last year with seven goals and nine assists. Don’t let the lesser senior stats fool you, this kid can play.MLS Combine2009: Pac 10 First Team.
2008: College Soccer News Third Team, Soccer American Second Team MVP, Top Drawer Soccer First Team, Pac 10 Player of the Year, First Team
MLS Combine.2009: West Coast Conference First Team.
2008: West Coast Conference First Team.
2007: Top Drawer Soccer Third Team, West Coast Conference First Team
2006: West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team, Honorable Mention.
“Trained with English Premier League players and coaches at the Liverpool Youth Academy in 2002 … trained with Italy’s prestigious Serie “A” Club Youth Academy Atalanta in 2005. Warner was just invited to the 2010 Adidas MLS Player Combine after leading Portland this year with nine goals, 25 points, three game-winners, 60 shots and 25 shots on-goal. He also led the West Coast Conference in points, was tied for first in game-winners, tied for second in goals and he ranked third with seven assists.”
If he weren’t 5′5″ Garcia might be a more highly coveted talent. Despite the small stature, Garcia is a terrific soccer player. Good enough on the ball he has the potential to make it at the MLS level. Started his career at Yavapai College where he was a JC All-American and National Champions before moving on to UC Irvine. A strong junior year when he was First Team Big West set up his outstanding senior season that earned him Big West Offensive Player of the Year and a Third Team All-American nod.
MLS Combine.
2009: Third Team All-American, Soccer American First Team MVP, College Soccer News Second Team, Goal.com Second Team, Big West Offensive Player of the Year, First Team.
2008: Soccer American Second Team MVP Big West First Team.
2007: Named ACCAC/Region I Player of the Year at Yavapai College…NSCAA/adidas Junior College Division I All-American…member of National Championship team…NSCAA/adidas All-West Region first team
One of the stars of the U17 Worlds back in 2005, Nakazawa negotiated with MLS prior to going to UCLA and then again after his freshman year. Three years later he leaves UCLA as a senior saddled with a reputation for amazing skill and an apathetic work rate. The most dangerous free kick taker in this pool, and maybe any pool, Nakazawa has sublime skills with the ball. Capable of playingin the midfield or as a striker, he’s arguably more talented than Stephens but is a less complete player. Only one Pac-10 honor in his career, a 2nd Team nod in 2007, before exploding this year with multiple All-American awards from leading the Bruins in scoring with twelve goals and seven assists.
MLS Combine.
2009: Herman Semi-Finalist, First Team All-American, Soccer American First Team MVP, Top Drawer Soccer First Team, College Soccer News First Team, Goal.com First Team, Pac 10 First Team.
A player of serious top end ball skill and creative bent. He was arguably stifled in college soccer. Almost signed a GA deal prior to his freshman year. he was THE creative, driving force in the power Dallas Texans 88 team and the one who made that team special. A couple years from now we might all be wondering what the heck we were thinking.2006: ACC All-Freshman Team
The red-shirt senior and South Africa native is a Second Team All-American and the Conference USA Player of the Year. Only the third player in UAB history with four conference nods, Gumede missed the entire 2007 season doe to injury but showed in 08 and 09 that he was fully recovered. An excellent athlete with tremendous range, it’s the passing vision in the final third that got him the award as the best in Conference USA. Gumede leaves UAB with 11 goals and 18 assists.
MLS Combine.
2009: AA2T, Soccer American Second Team MVP, CUSA Offensive Player of the Year, First Team.
A midfielder with a solid skill set, Becerra is a player who’s mind and will power make him a better player than his skills alone. Led the Red Storm to last year’s College Cup while grabbing the Big East Midfield of the Year award on the strength of his eight goals (five game winners) and seven assists. Becerra is less of a player maker and more of a big-goals-in-big-games difference maker. 2009 was a bit of a step back for St John’s and consequently Becerra. The Native of Peru leaves St John’s with 14 goals, six game winners, and 11 assists.
MLS Combine.
2009: Big East Second Team.
2008: College Soccer News First Team, Top Drawer Soccer Second Team, Big East Midfielder of the Year, First Team.
Born in Peru
“A 2009 second team All-BIG EAST selection, Becerra played in 61 games and made 39 starts in three seasons with St. John’s. The midfielder finished his career with 14 goals, including six game-winners, and 11 assists for 39 points. In 2008, Becerra was the BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year and a third team NSCAA All-Region selection after tallying eight goals, including five game-winners, and seven assists.”
MLS Combine.2009: Herman Semi-Finalist, Second Team All-American, College Soccer News Second Team, Goal.com Third Team, Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. 2008: Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, First Team
“Started all 23 games for the Bison…had 11 goals and nine assists for 31 points, good for the team lead…tallied seven game-winning goals in a 17-win season…the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year…a three-time All-Patriot League selection…had points in 11 consecutive games this season, a school record. O’Brien wrapped up a brilliant career ranked second on Bucknell’s career list for assists (25), sixth in points (77) and ninth in goals (26). He is the highest scoring Bison player in the last 20 years. 2009 Patriot League Player of the Year runner up, lost by one vote.”
MLS Combine.2009: Top Drawer Soccer First Team, Big East First Team.
2008: Big East Second Team
“Thomas (Olathe, Kan.) recently was named an Academic All-American. The midfielder, who was a two-time all-BIG EAST pick, led Notre Dame with six assists this past season in addition to scoring six goals. Thomas started 81 of the 83 matches during his Fighting Irish career and compiled 51 points on 19 goals and 13 assists. Thomas has been a dominant force in the Irish midfield. The senior has a team-high six assists to go along with six goals, which rank him second among all Fighting Irish players”
This kid has some serious pace and only started to use it for success wide in midfield his senior year. Don’t be shocked to see him show up in FCD camp as a free agent if he goes unpicked.2009: CUSA First Team.
Maryland in 06.2009: NSCAA D3 Player of the Year. 2 time Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Career: 33 goals and 35 assists. 3 time All-American.
2 PDL seasons with Reading Rage, led PDL in assists in 2009 with 10.
MLS Combine.2009: America East Conference First Team, America East Conference Second Team.
2006: America East Conference ART
“A 2008 Second Team All-League honoree, Appiah saved his best for last. After totaling 19 points in his first three seasons, he became more of an offensive threat his final year, recording four goals and five assists for 13 points.”
2009: Summit League Offensive Player of the Year, First Team.2008: Summit League First Team.
2007: Summit League First Team.
“Closed out his career as the UMKC school record holder in goals (29), points (70), shots (160) and games played (78)… started all 78 games of his ‘Roo career… also became the first three-time first team all-league honoree and the first four-time all-league selection… also was the first three-time all-region honoree in school history.”
“LaBauex (Chicago, Ill.) has started 16 games this year for UVa and has one goal and one assist, each game-winning. A captain and midfielder, LaBauex is earning All-ACC honors for the first time in his career.”
2008: Second Team All-American, Atlantic-10 First Team
“The Harrisburg, Pa. native (Central Dauphin) led the Owls in assists (7) for the third-straight year, also tallying three goals (13 pts). In his final game donning the Cherry and White, Noone rocketed a penalty kick home to give TU a 2-1 win over 15th-ranked Charlotte on Senior Day.”
2009: ACC Second Team”Barlow (Herndon, Va.) has scored four goals and tallied a team-high five assists this season as a midfielder for the Cavaliers. With three-game winning goals and three game-winning assists, Barlow ranks first on the team in those two categories.”
2009: Big West First Team. 2008: Big West First Team. 2007:Big West Honorable Mention 2006: Big West Second Team.”Was the only senior in the Big West Conference to earn All-Big West accolades each and every season as an undergraduate.”
2009: Horizon League First Team.2008: Horizon League First Team.
2007: Horizon League First Team.
“Gehrig tallied seven points (2 G, 3 A) for the Ramblers, providing a solid presence at midfield this season. The honor is Gehrig’s third in four seasons, making him just the second men’s soccer player in school history to earn first team status in three seasons. In his four seasons at LU, Gehrig has tallied 159 shots, good for fourth all-time.”
2009: America East Conference First Team.2008: America East Conference First Team.
“Transferred to Hartford after playing two seasons at Herkimer Community College … Herkimer was two-time NJCAA Regional Champions in 2006 and 2007 … named the NJCAA Region III Player of the Year in 2007 … selected to the ASCAA/Adidas All-North Region First Team and the NJCAA All-American First Team in 2007 … received President’s Award at Herkimer … finished career at Herkimer with 18 goals and 32 assists for a total of 68 points … team leader in assists during final season at Herkimer with 17 … second on the team in points and goals in 2007 season with 37 and 10, respectively .”
“Williams leads the team with six goals, including three game-winning tallies. He is second on the team with 14 points, and has also added two assists this season. ”
“Griffiths, a native of Bracknell, England, was a fixture in the UK midfield from the moment he arrived in Lexington, playing in 65 career games with 64 starts. Griffiths finished his career with 12 goals and 10 assists (34 points), netting two game-winning goals. Most impressive, Griffiths was a perfect 8-for-8 in penalty-kick goals in the regular-season in his decorated four-year career. ”
“Cukar (Millbrae, Calif./Capuchino HS) leads San Jose State in goals scored for a second year in a row from his left outside midfield position, with seven. He has 15 total points from those seven strikes and one assist. He is tied for second in the MPSF in goals after sharing the league lead as a junior. In fact, Cukar has started 56 consecutive games since the 2007 opener, without missing a single contest, and has tallied 22 goals for his career.”
2009: Pac 10 Honorable Mention.2008: Pac 10 Second Team.
2007: Pac 10 Second Team.
“Despite missing all but two Pac-10 games during the season, Toft still earned honorable mention honors after being a second-team pick in 2007 and 2008. Toft finished second on the team with 10 points on four goals and two assists while playing in just nine of San Diego State’s 18 matches. ”
2008: Pac 10 Second Team. 2007: PP10 Honorable Mention 2006: RSD-mid
“Wallace had one goal and two points from his defensive midfield position. A tri-captain, he started 15 of the 17 games he played, including eight of the 10 Pac-10 matches. He had seven shots with three of them coming on net.”
2009: Atlantic-10 First Team.2008: Atlantic-10 Honorable Mention.
“Gross, who was a preseason All-Atlantic 10 selection, ranks among the A-10 leaders with a team-leading career-high eight goals with four of them being game-winners.”
“After scoring five goals and 11 points as a junior, Recklet took on more of a contributing role in his final season in Hamden. His two goals and one assist put the senior midfield fourth on the Bobcats in scoring with five points.”
2009: Southern Conference First Team.2008: Southern Conference First Team.
2007: Southern Conference Second Team.
lefty left mid.
“A local talent out of Burlington, N.C., Imeni has been brilliant in the midfield for the Phoenix this season. The senior has racked up a career-best seven assists this season, bringing his four-year total to 15.”
“For his career, Runeman finished with 14 goals and 34 points in 76 matches for the Dolphins. He helped the Dolphins secure A-Sun titles during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Runeman also had the game-tying goal in JU’s 4-3 overtime win over Louisville in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season.”
2009: Missouri Valley Conference First Team.2008: Missouri Valley Conference Second Team.
2007: Missouri Valley Conference Second Team.
2006: Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team.
“Started all 25 games this season leading the team in game-winners (3), while ranking second in goals (7) and fourth in both points (16) and shots (32)…established a new school record for career games played (82). ”
2009: America East Conference First Team.2008: America East Conference First Team
Colombian
“Herkimer Community College … Herkimer was two-time NJCAA Regional Champions in 2006 and 2007 … named the NJCAA Region III Player of the Year in 2007. Guarin currently ranks second on the team with 10 points including four goals and a pair of assists. A transfer from Herkimer Community College, he has seen action in 28 career games with 26 starts and has compiled six goals and three assists for 15 career points.”
Hey Buzz, if you want to know the answer about Corben Bone, ask Jon. Jon works with Corben’s mom and they’ve talked about him.
the answer was MLS, sorry I pasted that comment out of my ESPN stuff. we know the answer.
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