With the 2016 MLS Player Combine drawing nearer, the league announced the final roster and team placement for the aspiring pros.
Five players have been taken off the initial roster that was released in early December: Brandon Allen (Georgetown), Bradley Bourgeois (Tulsa), Brendan Hines-Ike (South Florida), Jordan Schweitzer (Denver) and Andrew Souders (Akron).
Those players have been replaced by six new additions: Tony Alfaro (Cal State-Dominguez Hills), Connor Klekota (Notre Dame), Alex Morrell (North Florida), Norberto Ochoa (UC-Riverside), Miguel Salazar (Elon) and Taylor Washington (George Mason).
The final roster has been divided into four teams of 15, and will take part in three doubleheaders between Jan. 8 and Jan. 12.
Here’s a closer look at the four teams for the upcoming MLS Combine:
TEAM ACE
Head Coach: Greg Andrulis (George Mason); Asst. Coach: Junior Gonzalez (Seattle Sounders)
Duncan Backus – UCSB
Justin Bilyeu – SIU-Edwardsville
Jonathan Campbell – North Carolina
Zach Carroll – Michigan State
Robert T.J. Casner – Clemson
Tsubasa Endoh – Maryland
Josh Heard – Washington
Callum Irving – Kentucky
Darius Madison – UMBC
Zach Mathers – Duke
James C. Nortey – Marquette
Keegan Rosenberry – Georgetown
Tyler Thompson – Standord
Taylor Washington – George Mason
Todd Wharton – Virginia
TEAM CHAOS
Head Coach: Kris Kelderman (Wisconsin-Milwaukee); Asst. Coach: Jeff Baicher (DeAnza Force)
Neco Brett – Robert Morris
Paul Clowes – Clemson
Liam Doyle – Ohio State
Kyle Fisher – Clemson
Ryan Herman – Washington
Patrick Hodan – Notre Dame
Femi Hollinger-Janzen – Indiana
Connor Klekota – Notre Dame
Max Lachowecki – Notre Dame
Jordan McCrary – North Carolina
Chase Minter – Cal Poly
Kyle Parker – Charlotte
Michael Salazar – UC Riverside
Cole Seiler – Georgetown
Keegan Smith – San Diego
TEAM CONTROL
Head Coach: Kevin Anderson (Columbia); Asst. Coach: Bryan Scales (New England Revolution)
Tony Alfaro – Cal State – Dominguez Hills
Hadji Barry – UCF
Colin Bonner – UNC Wilmington
Tyler David – Saint Louis
Ryan James – Bowling Green
James Luchini – Lehigh
Mitchell Lurie – Rutgers
Antonio Matarazzo – Columbia
Alex Morrell – North Florida
Timo Pitter – Creighton
Thomas Sanner – Princeton
Rodrigo Saravia – Florida Gulf Coast
Connor Sparrow – Creighton
Josh Turnley – Georgetown
Eric Verso – Stanford
TEAM X
Head Coach: Jared Embick (Akron); Asst. Coach: Larry Sunderland (Portland Timbers)
Emmanuel Appiah – Cincinnati
Dennis Castillo – VCU
Mikhail Doholis – Oregon State
Michael Gamble – Wake Forest
Wade Hamilton – Cal Poly
Vincent Keller – Creighton
Sven Lissek – Furman
Ivan Magalhaes – Maryland
Vincent Mitchell – Butler
James Moberg – Washington
Norberto Ochoa – UC-Riverside
Ben Polk – Syracuse
Miguel Salazar – Elon
Mitchell Taintor – Rutgers
Brandon Vincent – Stanford
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Which players do you think will improve their stock in this combine? Which players won’t live up to expectations?
Share your thoughts below.
Watch out for Jamie Luchini from Lehigh university. He starred all season and turned around his program in college