Photo courtesy of Stanford Media Relations

BY ADAM SERRANO

Versatility is the name of the game for Stanford's Bobby Warshaw. 

Listed as a defender, Warshaw displays the positional diversity that can be golden in a league like Major League Soccer.

A  four-year starter at Stanford, Warshaw scored 18 goals in his career for the Cardinal — leading Stanford in scoring three times — while playing behind in a slot midfield role behind the forwards. However, Warshaw spent just as much time playing central defense for the Cardinal where he developed into one of Stanford's most vaunted defenders in program history.

With skills at a number of different positions many pundits are considering Warshaw in a holding midfield role so that he could best utilize his skills moving forward as well as those in defense. Warshaw is aware that his utility could be his greatest asset when approaching the combine and has sought to refine his skills before this weekend in order to attract MLS suitors.

"I've done training reps at every position that I can ahead of the combine, even at outside back which was a position that I was told that I may be placed in," said Warshaw. "The combine is a difficult process that I have had difficulty embracing, but I'm thankful for having the opportunity to play soccer for a living."

During his tenure with Stanford, the former U.S. youth national team player developed under the tutelage of head coach Bret Simon. Simon admits that when Warshaw arrived in Palo Alto, he was a headstrong youth player, but he left Stanford a leader relentlessly trying to improve his skill. This intense work rate has not gone unnoticed among MLS franchises as Simon states that between eight to ten MLS coaches have inquired about Warshaw's services. 

Despite the interest ahead of the combine, other defenders like North Carolina's Jalil Anibaba and California's A.J. Soares have received more accolades while Warshaw has flown underneath the draft radar. With only a few days to prove himself, Simon believes the four-day format of the MLS combine suits his former captain well. 

"He has a very impressive skill set and it will depend on the coach that picks him to find the proper role for him to play," said Simon. "In our matches against MLS competition, he was confident and with his strength and technical ability, he looked like a pro player playing among college players. I would be surprised if he did not stand out in the combine."

In preparation for the combine, which takes place in Ft. Lauderdale beginning Saturday, Warshaw has returned to his native Pennsylvania. While in the Keystone State, Warshaw has trained with the Harrisburg City Islanders of the USL in a recent tryout in front of members of the Philadelphia Union front office.

Training alongside MLS level talent is nothing new to Warshaw, who has spent time training with the Seattle Sounders and D.C. United in recent years. While training in Pennsylvania, Warshaw received praise from Union Youth Director, John Hackworth. 

Hackworth is not unfamiliar with Warshaw, who played under Hackworth with the U.S. Youth system from 2005 to 2007. Had it not been for a injury suffered in a pre-tournament friendly, Warshaw may have represented the United States at the U-17 World Championships in Peru. At the Combine, Warshaw will be joined by many of his former teammates like Anibaba and Cal's Demitrius Omphroy among others.

Warshaw has remained in close contact with many of the players including Anibaba, but has also kept up to date about the latest media buzz about where he could fall in the draft. Despite the nerves caused by reading where he could fall (Warshaw is ranked on the latest SBI big board), Warshaw is confident that no matter how the combine and subsequently the draft goes for him, he finds inspiration in a player from a different sport, who was also unheralded before the draft.

"I enjoy reading the rankings, but I know that these rankings don't determine your career or your success as a player," said Warshaw. "At the end of the day, no one cares that (NFL quarterback) Tom Brady was a fifth round pick so I focus on what I can control and I'm confident that I can do well."