MIAMI, Fla. (January 8, 2019) —
The MLS SuperDraft is not as critical today as it once was, due to the growth of academies and lower divisions as places to find talent. That said, this year’s crop of eligible players once again has a good number of talented players, a few of whom could thrive and prosper in MLS given the right opportunity.
The MLS SuperDraft is known for traditionally producing solid defensive options, and this year’s draft pool is no different. Right back is particularly stocked with players who could play their way into roster spots, though there are also a good number of intriguing central defenders.
Expect defenders, goalkeepers and wingers to be chosen. MLS teams also often convert elite university wingers into fullbacks. Central midfielders tend to be less popular with clubs increasingly using foreign signings and homegrown players to fill attacking midfielder and defensive midfielder roles.
One point of interest to watch at the draft will be at which point teams decide to take chances on international players. With more money that can be spent on international players, players who play in US universities that would occupy an international spot on a roster are less popular.
This year, players such as Aaron Molloy, Manuel Ferriol, Noah Billingsley and Patrick Nielson would be candidates for the top half of the first round if they weren’t international players. That being said, these players may still get selected, especially since they could start with a USL affiliate to begin with.
The following players are widely regarded as being the top ones eligible to be picked in this year’s SuperDraft, which will start with the first two rounds via conference call and web streaming on Jan. 9 and wrap up with the third and fourth rounds on Jan. 13.
First round coverage of the draft will be streamed live at 12:30 pm ET on the ESPN app, as well as through ESPN social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
The broadcast will feature real-time look-ins on club draft rooms and draftee reactions, as well as analysis from Taylor Twellman, Adrian Healey, Matt Doyle and special guests.
Recap: Who Is Eligible For The SuperDraft?
The SuperDraft includes amateur players who have completed their university eligibility and a handful of elite underclassmen and youth national team players signed by MLS to Generation adidas contracts. The Generation adidas players get the opportunity to complete their educations in the future; and their salaries don’t count against the teams’ salary budget, making them an attractive option.
Since 2003 has been a Generation adidas player, so it is safe to assume they will once again be featured players.
This year’s Generation adidas class,includes center forward Robbie Robinson (Clemson, Jr.), forward Daryl Dike (Virginia, Soph.), center back Jack Maher (Indiana, Soph.), center back Henry Kessler (Virginia, Jr.), and Canadian winger Ryan Raposo (Syracuse, Soph.).
Two promising seniors — Georgetown defender Dylan Nealis and Stanford defender Tanner Beason — also pre-signed MLS contracts and are eligible.
Here are two different lists of the most likely players to be selected in the 2020 Superdraft.
SBI Soccer Superdraft Big Board
(Note the designations for Generation Adidas players and international players): $=Generation Adidas, @=International Player)
- Robbie Robinson, Clemson, F/W ($)
- Jack Maher, Indiana, CB ($)
- Daryl Dike, Virginia, F ($)
- Dylan Nealis, Georgetown, RB
- Henry Kessler, Virginia, CB ($)
- Cal Jennings, Central Florida, F
- Ryan Raposo, Syracuse, AM ($)
- Dayonn Harris, UConn, RW
- Garrett McLoughlin, SMU, F/RW
- Jeremy Kelly, North Carolina, RB
- Alistair Johnson, Wake Forest, RB
- Jack Skahan, North Carolina, RW/RB
- Tanner Beason, Stanford, LB/CB
- Patrick Seagrist, Marquette, LB
- Aaron Molloy, Penn State, DM (@)
- Miguel Berry, San Diego, F
- Simon Lekressner, California, RB
- Elliott Panicco, Charlotte, GK
- Nebojsa Popovic, Michigan, F
- Noah Billingsley, UCSB, CB (@)
- Brandon Williamson, Duke, DM
- Patrick Nielson, Michigan State, CB (@)
- Jonathan Jimenez, Pacific, LB
- Daniele Proch, Duke, AM (@)
- Jack Hallahan, Michigan, Forward
- Manuel Ferriol, James Madison, AM (@)
- Jonathan Dean, Central Florida, RB
- Tanner Dieterich, Clemson, DM
- Brian Saramago, Loyola, F
- Wallis Lapsley, UC-Davis, GK
- Malick Mbaye, Clemson, CB (@)
- Cherif Dieye, Louisville, W (@)
- Joris Ahlinvi, Indiana, Winger (@)
- Bruno Lapa, Wake Forest, AM (@)
- Anders Engebretsen, Saint Mary’s, W (@)
- Keegan Meyer, High Point, GK
- Joey DeZart, Wake Forest, CM
- Phil Goodrum, UNC-Wilmington, F
- Achara, Georgetown, F (@)
- Jesus Perez, Illinois-Chicago, CM
- Simon Lefebvre, Temple, GK (@)
- Jorge Gonzalez, SIU-Edwardsville, AM (@)
- Johannes Bergmann, Maryland, CB (@)
- Andrew Booth, FIU, CM
- Eli Crognale, Maryland, CM
- Rey Ortiz, Portland, W (@)
- Simon Waever, Indiana, Left Back (@)
- Felicien Dumas, Notre Dame, LB (@)
- Luka Prpa, Marquette, CM
- Giuseppe Barone, Michigan State, CM
- Brandon Hackenberg, Penn State, CB
- Robin Afamefuna, Virginia, DM (@)
- Michael Wetungu, Michigan State, CB
- Nkosi Burgess, Seattle, CB
- Joergen Oland, Fordham, CB (@)
- Matthew Bentley, Missouri State, F (@)
- Andrew Verdi, Michigan, GK
- Jelani Pieters, North Carolina, W
- Will Mejia, Clemson, CB
- Jared Gilbey, Stanford, DM
- Younes Boudadi, Creighton, RB (@)
- Timo Mehlich, UNLV, AM (@)
- Derek Waldeck, Stanford, DM
- Sebastian Garcia-Herreros, West Virginia, RB
- Eric Diaz, Oregon State, RB
- Anthony Mwembia, Bowling Green, GK (@)
- Louka Masset, Louisville, CB (@)
- Parker Siegfried, Ohio State, GK
- Fortia Munts, VCU, AM (@)
- Pablo Pelaez, San Diego St., CM
- Justin Lobe, Yale, LB
- Julian Avila-Good, Seattle U., DM
- Nyal Higgins, Syracuse, CB
- Malcolm Moreno, Iona, RB
- Austin Aviza, Providence, GK
Top Drawer Soccer’s MLS Superdraft Big Board:
| Rank | Name | School |
| 1 | CB Jack Maher* | Indiana |
| 2 | CF Robbie Robinson* | Clemson |
| 3 | CF Cal Jennings | UCF |
| 4 | RB Dylan Nealis | Georgetown |
| 5 | DM Aaron Molloy | Penn State |
| 6 | W Ryan Raposo* | Syracuse |
| 7 | CB Henry Kessler* | Virginia |
| 8 | LB Tanner Beason | Stanford |
| 9 | M/RB Alistair Johnston | Wake Forest |
| 10 | CF Garrett McLaughlin | SMU |
| 11 | RB Noah Billingsley | UC Santa Barbara |
| 12 | CF Miguel Berry | San Diego |
| 13 | AM Manuel Ferriol | James Madison |
| 14 | CB Patrick Nielsen | Michigan State |
| 15 | W Jack Skahan | North Carolina |
| 16 | CM Brandon Williamson | Duke |
| 17 | AM Jesus Perez | UIC |
| 18 | RW Jack Hallahan | Michigan |
| 19 | CM/RB Jeremy Kelly | North Carolina |
| 20 | CM Cherif Dieye | Louisville |
| 21 | CM/CB Tanner Dieterich | Clemson |
| 22 | RB Simon Waever | Indiana |
| 23 | F/W Dayonn Harris | Connecticut |
| 24 | CF Jorge Gonzalez | SIUE |
| 25 | AM Rey Ortiz | Portland |
| 26 | CF Daniele Proch | Duke |
| 27 | CB Malick Mbaye | Clemson |
| 28 | D Simon Lekressner | California |
| 29 | LB Felicien Dumas | Notre Dame |
| 30 | CM Derek Waldeck | Stanford |
| 31 | AM Bruno Lapa | Wake Forest |
| 32 | CM Miguel Yuste | Yale |
| 33 | CB Nkosi Burgess | Seattle |
| 34 | CF Blake Frischknecht | Utah Valley |
| 35 | GK Elliot Panicco | Charlotte |
| 36 | AM Luka Prpa | Marquette |
| 37 | CF Nebojsa Popovic | Michigan |
| 38 | LB Patrick Seagrist | Marquette |
| 39 | GK Wallis Lapsley | UC Davis |
| 40 | AM Joris Ahlinvi | Indiana |
| 41 | CB Michael Wetungu | Michigan State |
| 42 | LB Danny Reynolds | UNC Wilmington |
| 43 | CM Andrew Booth | Florida International |
| 44 | CF Phillip Goodrum | UNC Wilmington |
| 45 | CF Samson Sergi | Xavier |
| 46 | GK Keegan Meyer | High Point |
| 47 | AM Leo Novaes | Saint Louis |
| 48 | AM Pablo Pelaez | San Diego State |
| 49 | RB Younes Boudadi | Creighton |
| 50 | D Will Mejia | Virginia Tech |
The MLS Draft Big Board was constructed in consultation with The Soccer Syndicate, North America’s only independent soccer scouting network.
The full list of players eligible for the Superdraft is available here:
