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MLS releases initial combine roster

Schuler

Photo courtesy of UNC athletics

The MLS Combine is about a month away, but we already have a good idea of who will be trying to wow scouts ahead of the MLS SuperDraft after MLS released a list of 52 players who will compete in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Among those included on the initial list are highly rated players such as South Florida standout goalkeeper Chris Blais, North Carolina centerback Matt Hedges, Louisville attackers Nick DeLeon and Colin Rolfe, Maryland forward Casey Townsend and Creighton striker Ethan Finlay.

North Carolina forward Billy Schuler, a redshirt junior and Generation adidas candidate, was also included on the list, which was supposed to be made up of all seniors.

The 52 invitees will be joined by other Generation adidas signees, international prospects and lower-division college players to round out a final list that will be released at a later date.

Here are the invitees as of now:

INITIAL 2012 MLS COMBINE ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS – Brian Rowe (UCLA); Chris Blais (University of South Florida); Jhojan Obando (Providence); Ryan Meara (Fordham).

DEFENDERS – Aaron Maund (Notre Dame); Andrew Duran (Creighton); Aubrey Perry (University of South Florida); Austin Berry (Louisville); Charles Rodriguez (UNC Charlotte); Chris Estridge (Indiana); Diogo de Almeida (SMU); Hunter Jumper (Virginia); James Kiffe (UC Santa Barbara); Justin Chavez (Tulsa); Matt Hedges (UNC); Mykell Bates (Santa Clara University); Nick Blake (UConn); Pat Sigler (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo); Shawn Singh (UCLA); Tommy Meyer (Indiana).

MIDFIELDERS – Alec Purdie (Indiana); Andy Rose (UCLA); Arthur Ivo (SMU); Brendan King (Notre Dame); Calum Mallace (Marquette); Christian Barreiro (UPenn); Eder Arreola (UCLA); Greg Jordan (Creighton); Kenney Walker (Louisville); Kevan George (UCF); Kirk Urso (UNC); Lance Rozenboom (New Mexico); Luis Silva (UC Santa Barbara); Michael Green (New Mexico); Miguel Ibarra (UC Irvine); Nick DeLeon (Louisville); Rafael Garcia (Cal State Northridge); Tony Walls (University of Wisconsin – Green Bay); Warren Creavalle (UCF).

FORWARDS – Antoine Hoppenot (Princeton); Billy Schuler (UNC); Brian Ownby (Virginia); Bryan Gaul (Bradley); Casey Townsend (Maryland); Colin Rolfe (Louisville); Ethan Finlay (Creighton); Evan James (UNC Charlotte); Evans Frimpong (Delaware); Karo Okiomah (High Point); Luckymore Mkosana (Dartmouth); Luke Holmes (Akron); Tony Cascio (UConn).

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Who do you look forward to seeing compete at the combine? Surprised to see any seniors not make the cut?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Really surprised to see Notre Dame outside Greg Klazura back not make the cut. He was invited last year and personally had an even better year this year, though the team did not.
    Lowe’s Senior Class Award Candidate, Captain, 2011 MLS Combine Invitee.

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  2. Lucky was born and raised in Zimbabwe. So yeah, he had it a little tougher than you think. Try crawling back under your rock until spring.

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  3. I am curious to see if more kids are putting it all into going pro these days. I wonder if the unemployment rate is proportional to the number of kids coming through academy and college programs and going pro. Would have to adjust it for growth of these programs, but we may get a good picture of growth of soccer in the US.

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  4. Thats what happens when college players keep getting better- Sad for the players, great for the league and U.S. Soccer- Sign of an improvement- I don’t know about anyone else, but it is an absolute pleasure watching soccer grow in this country.

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  5. If they are really good enough, they will find a job somewhere. Whether that’s MLS, USL, NASL, or abroad. If they don’t, they’re not good enough. These things sort themselves out over time.

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  6. It truly sucks for players I know that are just as good as some of these players (better in some cases), but were left off the list. Hope there are still opportunities for them to get in front of the MLS coaches and have a chance of being on an MLS team.

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  7. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, James Kiffe is a Superdraft LB pick for sure. He’s a sleeper and I think he’ll open some eyes at the combine. Silva should go first round. Garza and Opoku apparently might join this combine list if they get GA contracts.

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  8. Because he’s like 5-6 and because he plays behind a bunch of really good defenders and midfielders who make his job much easier.

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  9. How did Creighton’s Brian Holt not get an invite? He’s conceded only five goals all season, the Jays are in the Final Four, and he had an amazing season. It’s really disappointing to see him let off this list.

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