In Reply to: Color me skeptical. College hasn't been a feeder for pro soccer... posted by Born2BBruin on October 27, 2024 at 11:52:51
I gotta disagree about college being a feeder into a pro career. Imo, it quietly, on the DL, is a feeder into MLS. Especially if you're a defender, but not exclusively.
First, lest anyone misinterpret my post, intentionally or otherwise: If you're goal is to play professional soccer, then by all means, go the traditional route. Get yourself a club contract when you're 18 or before.
But, you can make it to MLS from college.
MLS announced its defender of the year noms. One of them is Jackson Regan (wiki page linked below). He had 69 appearances at Michigan from 2017 to 2021. He's not a fluke. CB's like Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman have bunches of caps. Zimmerman was a starter in the WC. Robinson would have at least been on the roster, but for injuries.
A guy in BigSoccer posted the WhoScored US-eligible team of the week for MLS (the statistically best US-eligible players at each position for the week) for much of this season. A strong majority of the defenders had done time in college. And, as I posted below, four of the top five US-eligible goal scorers in MLS this season played college soccer. That's pretty incredible. Yes, there are three guys that would be on that list if they hadn't been sold. But, guys that played college are even seeing success as attacking players.
To reiterate, I am NOT saying that an 18 year old whose only goal would be to play pro soccer would be better off playing in college than signing a pro contract. But, college soccer is producing a big share of the US-eligible players in MLS.
These guys are playing for good academies, or club affiliated academies, then for whatever reason, probably because they don't have an offer, are going the college route. There are probably verrrrry few that are turning down a contract in favor of college.
For that reason, I find the blaming of "college" for a diminished state of our talent pool to be a joke. "College" isn't taking away from the player pool. It's augmenting it. 99.99% of the guys playing college soccer, that is their only option to continue to play competitively. It's not the best path, but it is A path to a pro career.