Dorsey and Rennicks have as many callups as Perez this cycle. Obviously that's not the only measure of their value to Tab, but it's something.
LATE BLOOMER ALERT! So Kentucky has a 6-4 junior forward named JJ Williams, who is from Montgomery Alabama. His first two seasons, he scored six goals and seven assists in 37 games. Respectable, but nothing to get too excited about. Tonight, facing an Indiana team that was No. 1 in the RPI and loaded with YNT and MLS academy kids, Williams scored two goals and an assist, bringing his totals for the season to 9 goals and 3 assists in 10 games. Also, he's lead Kentucky to an undefeated (8-0-2) start. Is he a future YNT player? Doubtful. But a big forward who can score will always capture your attention. It will be interesting to see if he gets any MLS interest this winter. https://ukathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6591
Since we're talking about what college players might make the qualifying roster, here are the current stats U19/U20 players who have been called up this cycle and are playing college soccer this season. U20 Franky Amaya (00), Fr. M, UCLA - 8 games, 5 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist Simon Becher (99), Fr. F, Holy Cross - 10 games, 9 starts, 3 goals, 1 assist Gideon Davis (99), Fr. M/D, Denver - 11 games, 7 starts, 0 goals, 2 assists Griffin Dorsey (99), So. F/M, Indiana - 10 games, 9 starts, 4 goals, 2 assists Justin Garces (00), Fr. GK, UCLA - 5 games, 5 starts, 1.40 GAA, .632 save pct. Siad Haji (99), Jr. F, Va. Commonwealth - 10 games, 9 starts, 5 goals, 5 assists Jack Maher (99), Fr. D, Indiana - 11 games, 11 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists George Marks (99), Fr. GK, Clemson - 2 games, 2 starts, 0.45 GAA, .800 save pct. Justin McMaster (99), So. F, Wake Forest - 8 games, 8 starts, 4 goals, 3 assists Glademir Mendoza (99), Fr. D, New Mexico - 1 game, 0 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists Trey Muse (99), So. GK, Indiana - 11 games, 11 starts, 0.74 GAA, .771 save pct. Manny Perez (99), So. D.M, NC State - 8 games, 7 starts, 1 goal, 4 assists Justin Rennicks (99), So. M/F, Indiana - 11 games, 11 starts, 4 goals, 0 assists Aedan Stanley (99), Fr. D, Duke - 9 games, 9 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists Seth Stiebel (99), Fr. GK, Saint Louis - 3 games, 2 starts, 1.13 GAA, .500 save pct. Greg Tracey (99), Fr. M, Portland - 10 games, 10 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists Carson Vom Steeg (99), So. D, UC Santa Barbara - 8 games, 7 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists Aristotle Zarris (99), Fr. M, Wake Forest - 10 games, 4 start, 3 goals, 2 assists Sean Zawadzki (00), Fr. M, Georgetown - 10 games, 2 starts, 0 goals, 1 assist U19 Jake Arteaga (00), Fr. D, Portland - 10 games, 9 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists Charlie Asensio (00), Fr. D, Clemson - 10 games, 10 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists Alex Budnik (00), Fr. GK, Dartmouth - YET TO PLAY Jean-Julien Foe Nuphaus (00), Fr. D, California - 8 games, 8 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists Kyle Holcomb (00), Fr. F, Wake Forest - 10 games, 6 starts, 3 goals, 1 assist Matt Hundley (00), Fr. M, UCLA - 9 games, 8 starts, 3 goals, 4 assist Aboubacar Keita (00), Fr. D, Virginia - 8 games, 8 starts, 1 goal, 0 assists Declan McGlynn (00), Fr. M, Seattle Univ. - 9 games, 5 starts, 5 goals, 4 assists Isaiah Parente (00), Fr. M, Wake Forest - 11 games, 1 start, 1 goal, 5 assists Johan Penaranda (00), Fr. GK, Pittsburgh - 9 games, 9 starts, 1.00 GAA, .700 save pct. Jeremy Rafanello (00), Fr. F, Penn State - 9 games, 9 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist Carlo Ritaccio (00), Fr. D, Akron - 7 games, 7 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists AJ Seals (00), Fr. M, NC State – 1 game, 0 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists
Here's video of him from last night. https://all-sportnews.com/kentucky-soccer-downs-2nd-ranked-indiana-to-remain-perfect/
A 99 Tab should consider for a look is Wake Forest sophomore Omir Fernandez, who has 8 goals and 3 assists in 11 games. He might be the highest-scoring U20-eligible player in college soccer. I think he is, but I'm not 100 percent certain. He was part of YNTs at younger ages but hasn't been called in this cycle. Also part of the Red Bulls academy and a strong candidate for a HG contract.
So there are still 40! 97/98s who were called in to the last U20 cycle who are still playing college soccer. I can’t imagine many, if any, of them getting a U23 look given the pro competition, especially when you factor in the 99/00s, but stranger things have happened. In the last cycle, the U23s had a camp just for college kids to see if they could uncover a diamond in the rough or two. I wouldn’t mind if they did something like that this winter. But, of course, that would require having a U23 coach. Anyway, here are the current college stats from the 97/98s who were called up in the last U20 cycle. (Some of these cats, you look at their college number and you're like 'how the f**k did these guys get a YNT call-up? They must've been amazing youth players! Or their club coaches called in a favor!) Colby Agu (98), Jr. F, Duke 4 games, 0 starts, 42 minutes, 0 goals, 0 assists Matias Barraza (98), So. M, Florida International 9/7, 638, 0/1 Habib Barry (98), So. F/D, *Tyler JuCo - Seattle Sounders academy 12/11, N/A, 5/0 Amir Bashti (97), Sr. M, Stanford - San Jose Earthquakes academy 9/9, N/A, 5/3 Jonathan Bell (97), Jr. D., UMBC – DC United academy 1/0, NA, 0/0 Marcello Borges (97), Sr. D, Michigan - New York Red Bulls academy 7/7, 581, 0/1 John Denis (98), Jr. M, Columbia 6/5, N/A, 1/1 Tanner Dieterich (98), Jr. D, Clemson – Real Salt Lake academy 10/10, N/A, 2/0 Sebastian Elney (97), Sr. F, Maryland – Philadelphia Union academy 7/5, 445, 1/1 Matthew Freese (98), So. GK, Harvard - Philadelphia Union academy 6/6, 493, 1.09 GAA, .793 save pct. Danny Griffin (98), Jr. M, Providence 10/10, 827, 1/0 Jeremiah Gutjahr (97), Sr. M, Indiana - Chicago Fire academy 11/10, N/A, 0/1 Sam Golan (98), So. D, William & Mary 9/9, 873, 1/1 Bemjamin Hale (98), R-So. GK, Furman – FC Dallas academy 10/10, 901, 1.10 GAA, .771 save pct. Michael Ille (98), R-Fr. M, *Mercer – Atlanta United academy 9/9, 622, 2/0 Justin Ingram (98), So. M, Virginia - Chicago Fire academy^ 4/2, 224, 0/0 Nabi Kibunguchy (98), R-So. D, UC Davis 10/10, 767, 0/1 Jeremy Kelly (97), Jr. M, North Carolina 9/9, 640, 0/1 Noah Lawrence (98), So. GK, Cincinnati – DC United academy 6/6, 564, 0.96 GAA, .647 save pct. Simon Lekressner (98), Jr. M, California 8/8, 708, 0/0 David Loera (98), So. M, NC State – Orlando City academy 10/10, 932, 0/5 Henry Martin (97), Sr. D, Princeton – New York Red Bulls academy Injured, yet to play Jacob Montes (98), So. M, Georgetown – Portland Timbers academy 10/10, N/A, 0/2 Edwin Munjoma (98), Jr. D, Southern Methodist – FC Dallas academy 10/10, 893, 2/1 John Nelson (98), So. D, North Carolina 9/9, 839, 0/1 Sean O'Hearn (98), So. D, Georgetown 10/10, N/A, 0/0 Logan Panchot (98), So. D, Stanford 9/9, N/A, 1/2 Pablo Pelaez (97), R-Jr. M, San Diego State 9/9, 600, 4/2 Mauricio Pineda (97), Jr. D/M, North Carolina – Chicago Fire academy 9/9, 833, 3/3 Donovan Pines (98), Jr. D, Maryland - DC United academy 9/9, 865, 0/0 Nebosja Popovic (97), R-Jr. F, *Oakland 9/9, 796, 3/6 Will Pulisic (98), So. GK, Duke 9/9, 820, 1.65 GAA, .651 save pct. Grant Robinson (98), Jr. D, George Mason – DC United academy 7/7, 483, 2/1 Alex Rose (98), So. F, North Carolina 6/0, 141, 2/0 Martin Salas (97), R-Jr. M, North Carolina - FC Dallas academy 4/0, 37, 0/0 Brian Sarmango (98), Jr. F, Loyola, Md. – New York Red Bulls academy 9/9, 770, 5/4 Colin Shutler (98), R-So. GK, Virginia 8/8, 760, 0.24 GAA, .938 save pct. Brandon Terwege (98), So. D, UCLA - FC Dallas academy 9/9, 789, 1/0 Sean Wilson (97), R-Jr. M, *Xavier - Philadelphia Union academy 9/9, 834, 0/1 Abu Winter (97), So. F, *York (D-III) – Philadelphia Union academy 6/4, N/A, 0/0 *Transferred ^MLS satellite academy
99 Milan Iloski had a decent freshman year but missed most of this season with an injury. He's healthy now and has a couple goals, including this free kick: 23': UCLA goal! Milan Iloski shows how to take a free kick, and the Bruins lead 1-0. Tune in now on the Pac-12 Network!#GoBruins | #UCLAvsWASH pic.twitter.com/F5Xh1fNIRF— UCLA Men's Soccer (@UCLAMSoccer) October 5, 2018
There are an awful lot of great academic schools on this list. Are there a lot of players on this list that, in your opinion, were good enough to become pro earlier, but they chose to stay because of the value of that education?
Some, yes. It's still hard to go pro early in the US, especially if you aren't in an MLS academy. At the same time, soccer salaries, while improving, still aren't that high and an Ivy League degree (or UVa/Stanford/Duke etc...) probably still has more long-term worth. So if you're 50-50, it probably makes more sense to get that degree. Very few of these kids who are still in school are slamdunks for long pro careers where they will make more than they would with a good degree and a "normal" job. Almost always, the truly elite ones are already pros.
The best soccer schools in the country also happen to be the best public schools in the country. I don't think that's a coincidence.
So Virginia has an interesting prospect that appears to be worth following and proves the need to continue to look outside the USSDA pipeline for elite talent. Freshman forward Daryl Dike is a massive target forward who missed the first part of the season with an injury but is now healthy and has scored three goals in 5 games starting for the Cavaliers. The kid is built like the proverbial brick shithouse - 6-2 and 225 pounds. He is, obviously, a prototypical target forward and is very good at hold up play and playing with his back to goal. Most soccer players have big legs but this dude's thighs are like tree trunks. Compare his legs to the opposing player here, who in this case is Wright State senior defender Dan Bent, who is listed at 6-1, 187. Dike (dee-kay) is the younger brother of former Notre Dame and Portland/Toronto player Bright Dike, who was born and raised in the US but played for Nigeria (where their parents are from) and got 2 caps with their senior team. Their sister Courtney also plays for Nigeria. Like Courtney and Bright, Daryl Dike was born in the US. I can't find a DOB but he was listed with the Region III ODP 2000 ODP team so that seems to imply he's a 00. Dike grew up in Oklahoma. There's no USSDA boys team there so he didn't have that option, just like another man-child who was a tremendous athlete, 98 Lamar Batista. Dike is raw but he is so powerful. I have no idea if he'd play for the US or if he's holding out hope for Nigeria but undoubtedly the Super Eagles know about him because of his family. But after qualifying, he's a player Tab should consider taking a look at. I don't know if he'll turn pro immediately, but the kid obviously has a man's physique and I don't see him sticking around Charlottesville for four seasons. He's a future pro, and likely sooner rather than later. Here's some video of a couple of his goals. GOOAAALLL!!! Daryl Dike notches his first career goal and gives UVA a 2-1 lead over Wright State in the 58th minute! pic.twitter.com/kZ1DCci8T5— Virginia Men's Soccer (@UVAMenSoccer) October 3, 2018 Number two for Daryl Dike!! Hoos now lead No. 5 Denver, 3-0 in the 70th minute! Dike’s second goal of the game, 3rd of the season pic.twitter.com/R2vCdIqCAO— Virginia Men's Soccer (@UVAMenSoccer) October 8, 2018
Omir Fernandez had a brace and an assist for Wake Forest tonight. He's up to 10 goals and 4 assists in 13 games. I am pretty sure he's the highest-scoring U20-eligible American in college soccer right now. And he hasn't gotten a look from the U20 team this cycle.
Good post on Dike, @Sandon Mibut. Here's a post suggesting he played on a '98 club team, but maybe he was playing up? https://okenergyfc.org/oefc-alumnus-daryl-dike-looks-to-future-at-virginia/ I watched his brother play at Notre Dame. It's a shame he was still so raw when he got to the pros, and then of course another shame that injuries took such a tool on him. You don't see body types like his in the game much and it was fun to imagine what might be possible.
Yeah, it definitely appears he was playing up as he also played with a 99 team with the same club. With his build, it's easy to imagine teams wanting him playing against older guys. I'd love there to be an American Lukaku. Not saying Dike is it, but he fits the profile. (And it would be just like American soccer to have a Lukaku-like player emerge after not being part of the USSDA and youth national teams.)
Worth noting that the Lukaku profile includes scoring 15 goals in Belgium during one's age 16 season...
It would be quite a tipping point if/when the USL grew to the point where independent clubs offered enough money to lure HS talent away from the college route. That helps, but imagine what 18 year old Belgian Lukaku would have done in the ACC!
I agree that that is a tipping point for American soccer. Would help if MLS started paying transfer fees for USL talent, thus giving the USL teams incentive to make the investment. That would have been a sight to behold. Tangentially related, everytime Sebastian Soto scores in Germany I wonder how dominant he'd have been this season at Cal.
So here's another intriguing one in the "from a small town, didn't play USSDA" category. As you'll see, this one is kinda tough to google because of his name - Danny Trejo. He's a sophomore attacker at Cal State Northridge who had a solid freshman season (7 and 3) and this year has 8/4 in 12 games before tonight. https://gomatadors.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3288&path=msoc Trejo is from Mendota, CA, a tiny farm town in the San Joaquin Valley about 45 miles outside of Fresno. Apparently he was one of the most prolific HS scorers in California history, scoring 200 goals, though obviously we don't know much about the level of play. He also played basketball and ran track. (Here's an article about him in HS. https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/high-school/article133149779.html) He does not appear to have played club soccer or if he did, it wasn't at a very high level. I have no idea what year he was born but I'm assuming he's a 98 or 99 because of his year in school. And, of course, Danny Trejo google searches lead to far more about Machete than about footie. So any help would be appreciated. I'm a sucker for stories like this one so if anyone knows, or can find, any info about him, please share it. But he's producing and a pretty high level, including a goal and an assist in a win over UCLA and all its YNT players and future pros and I think he's worth watching.