By FRANCO PANIZO
The 2015 MLS Combine is closer than most might realize, and clubs will soon begin ramping up their preparations for the event after finding out the majority of the invited players.
MLS revealed on Thursday morning the 55 NCAA Division I college seniors that have been asked to participate in the upcoming combine set to be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, from Jan. 8-13. A committee of NCAA Division I coaches from every conference as well as MLS coaches selected the invitees, all of whom completed their college eligibility this past season.
Some of the more notable names on the list include UCLA midfielder Leo Stolz, Northwestern goalkeeper Tyler Miller, Virginia midfielder Eric Bird and UCLA g0alkeeper Earl Edwards Jr.
The 55 chosen players are not guaranteed to participate in the event, as any of them could turn down their invitation.
Generation adidas signings, non-collegiate players, and other college seniors will be announced in the coming weeks. Additionally, Notre Drame midfielder Nick Besler, younger brother of Sporting Kansas City’s Matt Besler, has already been invited.
Here is the entire list of invited players:
| First Name | Last Name | School | Position | Hometown/Citizenship | |
| Saad | Abdul-Salaam | University of Akron | DF | Gahanna, Ohio – USA | |
| Miguel | Aguilar | University of San Francisco | FW | Sacramento, CA – Mexico | |
| Fatai | Alashe | Michigan State | M/D | Northville, Mich. – USA | |
| Tyler | Arnone | University of Michigan | DF | Hicksville, N.Y. – USA | |
| Dominique | Badji | Boston University | FW | Dakar, Senegal – Senegal | |
| Oumar | Ballo | UMBC | DF | Baltimore, Md. – Mali/ process USA | |
| Laurie | Bell | UW-Milwaukee | D/M | Poynton, England – UK | |
| Salvador | Bernal | UNLV | M/F | Las Vegas, Nev. – U.S. Resident | |
| Nick | Besler | Notre Dame | MF | Overland Park, KS – USA | |
| Adria | Beso Marco | UConn | MF | Lleida, Spain – Spain | |
| Andrew | Bevin | West Virginia University | F/M | Napier, New Zealand – New Zealand | |
| Eric | Bird | University of Virginia | MF | Virginia Beach, Va. – USA | |
| Connor | Brandt | University of San Diego | MF | Temecula, CA – USA | |
| Sergio | Campbell | UConn | DF | Clarendon, Jamaica – Jamaica | |
| Seth | Casiple | California | MF | Rocklin, Calif. – USA | |
| Wesley | Charpie | University of South Florida | DF | Tarpon Springs, Fla. –Â USA | |
| Andy | Craven | University of North Carolina | FW | St. Simons Island, Ga. – USA | |
| Otis | Earl | UC Riverside | DF | London, England – British/USA | |
| Earl | Edwards, Jr. | UCLA | GK | San Diego, Calif. – USA | |
| Marc | Fenelus | California State University Fullerton | FW | Providenciales, Turks and Caicos – Turks and Caicos | |
| Oniel | Fisher | University of New Mexico | MF | Portmore, Jamaica – Jamaica | |
| Tomas | Gomez | Georgetown | GK | Webster Groves, Mo. – USA | |
| Connor | Hallisey | California | MF | Granite Bay, Calif. – USA | |
| Cameron | Iwasa | UC Irvine | FW | Sacramento, Calif. – USA | |
| Daniel | Keller | University of Louisville | DF | Carmel, Ind. – USA | |
| Robert | Kristo | St. Louis University | FW | St. Louis, Mo. – USA/Croatia | |
| Sagi | Lev-Ari | California State University Northridge | FW | Haifa, Israel – Israel | |
| Rob | Lovejoy | University of North Carolina | F/M | Greensboro, N.C. – USA | |
| Fabio | Machado | Providence College | MF | Santa Catarina, Brazil – USA | |
| Ignacio | Maganto | Iona College | FW | Madrid, Spain – Spain | |
| Anthony | Manning | St. Louis University | DF | Mesquite, Texas – USA | |
| Ramon | Martin DelCampo | UC Davis | DF | Chula Vista, Calif. – USA | |
| Shawn | McLaws | Coastal Carolina University | DF/MF | Edmond, Okla. – USA | |
| Dan | Metzger | University of Maryland | MF | Holmdel, N.Y. – USA | |
| Tyler | Miller | Northwestern | GK | Woodbury, N.J. – USA | |
| Luke | Mishu | Notre Dame | DF | Knoxville, TN – USA | |
| Adam | Montague | Michigan State | FW | Toledo, Ohio – USA | |
| Craig | Nitti | Loyola Marymount | DF | Calabasas, Calif. – USA / Italy | |
| Boyd | Okwuonu | University of North Carolina | DF | Edmond, Okla. – USA | |
| Tim | Parker | St. John’s University | DF | Hicksville, N.Y. – USA | |
| Nikola | Paunic | University of South Florida | DF | Toronto, Ontario – Canada | |
| Matt | Polster | SIU-Edwardsville | DF | Las Vegas, Nev. – USA | |
| Jose | Ribas | Creighton University | D/M | Guayaquil, Ecuador – Ecuador | |
| Sidney | Rivera | Old Dominion University | FW | Hampton, N.J. – USA | |
| James | Rogers | University of New Mexico | FW | Sierra Leone – USA | |
| Manolo | Sanchez | Clemson University | MF | Philadelphia, Pa. – USA | |
| Will | Seymour | Oregon State | MF | Soham, England – USA/UK | |
| Khiry | Shelton | Oregon State | FW | Leander, Texas – USA | |
| Aaron | Simmons | UCLA | DF | Mansfield, Texas – USA | |
| Leo | Stoltz | UCLA | MF | Munich, Germany – Germany | |
| Andy | Thoma | University of Washington | MF/DF | Los Alamos, N.M. – USA | |
| Skylar | Thomas | Syracuse University | DF | Pickering, Ontario – Canada | |
| Andrew | Tusaazemajja | UCLA | MF | Panorama City, Calif. – USA | |
| Christian | Volesky | SIU-Edwardsville | F/M | Henderson, Nev. – USA | |
| Andrew | Wolverton | Penn State | GK | Atlanta, Ga. – USA |
 |
—–
What do you think of this list? Is there someone who isn’t on here that should be? Who do you consider a can’t-miss prospect?
Share your thoughts below.
While all these practice heroes rep Adidas and pretend like it’s quality gear, Tom Skelly will be on top 😉
Tom stole my girl.
Is Tom Skelly going to make a run for my kids spot at the combine? All those hours at the field. All those soccer mom/dad stickers on my Honda Odyssey. This can’t all amount to nothing. If Tom Skelly is out there, please don’t come to the combine for the sake of my sperm/eggs dignity.
Best regards,
The keeper of the book
Alright tough guys. I know what you said, I’ve seen the results, and you bet I’ve read the elements. Go ahead lets play hard ball. Fabio Machado? Matt Polster? Really? I’ve seen my grandmother’s dentures chew-up tougher talent than these amateurs. This list doesn’t supply the competition necessary to begin Tom Skelly’s domination of the MLS and change American soccer as we know it. I guess it’ll just be another year where the fans pull the plow and the players fear the reaper.
Dr. Resslemen here, doctor with over 15 years and 7+ five star yelp reviews commending my services, and the only thing I have enjoyed more than being Tom Skelly’s Proctologist for the past 5 years is watching him play Soccer. Any list without his name is not what this doctor recommends.
I saw 12 Years of Slaves with Tom Skelly and I can confirm that he is not racist. Sign this man MLS!
Any brothers who have not posted a comment pimping Tom Skelly on SBI will face immediate sanctions at Sunday’s chapter meeting. Are we clear?
One thing I am: Huge fan of Tom Skelly
One thing I am not: Huge fan of you posting this type of smear campaign
I think you and the MLS should take a page out of Will Smith’s book and get jiggy with Tom Skelly.
Tom Skelly is not only the greatest soccer player to be left off this list but the greatest American to have never received the Medal of Honor. I predict the downfall of the MLS within 2 years if this injustice is not corrected. #freetom #thanksobama #whoaskedshawn
Hey shawn. who are you. who the f are you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCvMdFpHkVA
is it me or someone is spamming tom skelly. whoever that is
I have to say until the MLS changes its current management decisions to meet U.S. sports fans expectations they will see continued stagnant growth in television contracts, merchandise, paraphernalia, and ticket sales. If Tom Skelly did anything in his 4 years as a Hoya it was pull a loyal and continually devoted fan base. When will the league learn. smh words can not express https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5d42w4ZcY4
I think it’s only right that I give my professional opinion on the above list and the seemingly disappointed commentators. Here we go. First, we can all agree on Tom’s character and work ethic: unmatchable. In fact, Tom Skelly’s weaknesses are his strengths. I think this list continues to affirm the MLS’s mismanagement and inability to capitalize on a good investment. I wish there were a way for this memo to be undone, but it seems as though a setback like this can only make Tom stronger. I trust the MLS will take these responses seriously and respond to their primary revenue generators, the fans. Get tom on the ballot and stop using soccer fans as pawns to carry out your real underlying intentions.
I watch I play but Tom Skelly leaves burns holes in the turf. Com’on!!
2014
IRS Scandal
Bill Cosby allegations
and Now this hoax
Pull it together MLS or you’ll never get a fan base
I’m disappointed to not see “Tom Skelly” on the list. Coach Klinsy thinks he is the next Run DMBeasley. Shout out to Tom Skelly.
Let’s talk about the issues: Dr. Tom Skelly has the legs for this. Yall act like free speech is going out of style. You can count my vote out on draft day if this list stands. Get back to fundamentals and get Skelly in and Parker out. These new league rules hurt our core principles let the man keep the title.
Why aren’t we talking about Tom Skelly from Georgetown? His soccer talent is only matched by his perfect, feathered hair. I heard he gave up a chance to play pro to help save children suffering in Africa with Doctors without Borders. A player with his character and talent needs to be on this list.
We need to open up this discussion on Georgetown senior prospect Tom Skelly. He’s a world class athlete, definitely has the stones to make it.
Where the hell is Tom Skelly from Georgetown? That kid has so much talent and skill.
I like that you brought his name up, about time we get this boy to the show
That Robert Kristo kid from SLU looks to have some talent. The music stinks but has some skill for sure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG_f_BSUr1g
Looks like Matt Besler’s little brother.
A good segue would be show how many combine players from the last five years are still in the league? Or drafted college players are in the league?
I ask every year that instead of ranking “this year’s draft” – players who have never played a minute of MLS – that instead this site ranks last year’s draft one year later, or teams over the past three years.
Oumar Ballo is one to keep an eye on.
What, if anything, does it mean that only 5 of the 16 Hermann Trophy finalists are invited?
Not much. Some don’t want to play soccer for a living. Others get invited to play abroad.
They are probably are or will be generation adidas signings and those guys haven’t been invited yet. Don’t know why. Also this list is only of players who have completed their college eligibility so it will certainly be added to.
It means that the finalist Hermann Watch List recognizes the best college players on winning teams that managed to get into the NCAA playoffs. The Combine recognizes the players with the best chance to get into the MLS and play. A bunch of players in the combine are from teams that underperformed; that does not mean that those players are under performers. In fact, many of the players on the finalist Watch List had teams that “supported” their style of play and allowed them to display their skills, covered their weaknesses. Some of the players on the underperforming teams “carried” their teams as far as they could get them. Who are really the best players in the country? I would vote for combine players and the ones that carried under performing teams to winning, but maybe not playoff, seasons.
Nice to see 2 boys from Oklahoma on the list, both talented and from OKC area.