The 2012 MLS Combine is set to kick off this afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, and SBI will be providing coverage throughout the next five days, as players look to improve their stock ahead of the MLS Draft.
The Combine will be live-streamed on MLSSoccer.com, while Fox Soccer and SBI will feature extensive coverage, including game recaps, player rankings, video interviews and breakdowns of all the action.
The rosters have finally emerged for the Combine teams, with all the draft prospects being placed on four teams that will play a round-robin format in matches to be played today, Sunday and Tuesday. The rosters are made up mainly of college players, but does include seven youth international players signed by MLS.
Andrew Wenger, the top prospect in the draft, is the lone top player who is missing the Combine. A loaded travel schedule made coming to Fort Lauderdale a difficult proposition for the Duke product, but he is expected to attend the MLS Draft.
The Generation adidas class is now set at nine players, and here is my Fox Soccer piece on how MLS put together that class (along with a breakdown of each player).
Before the action begins, and before SBI launches a Match Day Commentary of the action, here is a final Pre-Combine MLS Mock Draft, which lists the players I see being drafted next week:
2012 MLS MOCK DRAFT
1- MONTREAL IMPACTÂ
Darren Mattocks, Akron, F
2- VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Andrew Wenger, Duke, CB
3- NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Dom Dwyer, South Florida, F
4- TORONTO FC
Nick DeLeon, Louisville, M
5- CHIVAS USA
Kelyn Rowe, UCLA, M
6- SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Tyler Polak, Creighton, D
7- D.C. UNITED
Enzo Martinez, North Carolina, M
8- PORTLAND TIMBERS
Matt Hedges, North Carolina, D
9- CHICAGO FIRE
Casey Townsend, Maryland, F
10- COLUMBUS CREW
Luis Silva, UCSB, M
11- FC DALLAS
Andrew Jean-Baptiste, UConn, D
12- TORONTO FC
Aaron Maund, Notre Dame, D
13- PHILADELPHIA UNION
Tony Cascio, UConn, M
14- COLORADO RAPIDS
Sam Garza, UCSB, F/M
15- SEATTLE SOUNDERS
Chandler Hoffman, UCLA, F
16- SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Callum Mallace, Marquette, M
17- REAL SALT LAKE
Mykell Bates, Santa Clara, D
18- HOUSTON DYNAMO
Colin Rolfe, Louisville, F
19- LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Austin Berry, Louisville, D
SECOND ROUND
20- MONTREAL IMPACT
Brian Ownby, Virginia, Forward
21- VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Andy Rose, UCLA, Defensive Midfielder
22- NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Tommy Meyer, Indiana, Centerback
23- CHICAGO FIRE
Kirk Urso, North Carolina, Defensive Midfielder
24- CHIVAS USA
Lucky Mkosena, Dartmouth, Forward
25- SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKESÂ
Arthur Ivo, SMU, Attacking Midfielder/Left Winger
26- COLUMBUS CREW
Chris Estridge, Indiana, Left Back
27- PORTLAND TIMBERS
Greg Jordan, Creighton, Defensive Midfielder
28- CHICAGO FIRE
Evans Frimpong, Delaware, Left Winger/Forward
29- COLUMBUS CREW
Kevan George, Central Florida, Defensive Midfielder
30- SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Andrew Duran, Creighton, Centerback
31- NEW YORK RED BULLS
Ryan Meara, Fordham, Goalkeeper
32- PHILADELPHIA UNION
James Kiffe, UCSB, Left Back
33- SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Babayele Sodade, UAB, Forward
34- SEATTLE SOUNDERS
Miguel Ibarra, UC-Irvine, Attacking Midfielder
35- PHILADELPHIA UNION
Ethan Finlay, Creighton, Forward
36- REAL SALT LAKE
Michael Green, New Mexico, Right Midfield
37- HOUSTON DYNAMO
Lance Rozeboom, New Mexico, Defensive Midfielder
38- LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Eder Arreola, UCLA, Left Midfielder