The blend between old and new for U.S. Soccer’s Bradenton Residency Roster this spring is indicative to U.S. U17 Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera’s efforts to solidify the defense in preparations for the CONCACAF U17 Championships and the potential FIFA U17 World Cup berth.

Eight new players have been called into residency, housed on the campus of IMG Academies in Florida, with half of them being defenders. AJ Jeffries (Chicago Fire Juniors), Reed Norton (Concorde Fire), and Michael King (Texans SC Houston) have been invited to strengthen the backline that already contains veterans Andrew Oliver, Marc Pelosi, Nathan Smith, and Andrew Souders.

“Michael is very athletic,” said Texas SC Houston Coach Scott James. “He always takes it game by game, season by season. As a 6’1” defender, he has really matured and developed while playing some tough academy games.”

The other four rookies to join residency are forward Jack McBean (Los Angeles Galaxy), who recently signed a homegrown contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy, midfielders Christian Duarte (Texas SC Houston), Fernando Laverde (FC Dallas), and Jordan Allen (Empire United).

“Jordan is a humble kid that works hard and wants to get better,” said Empire United Head Coach Paul Valenti. “I think residency will be an environment that will be challenging for him which is what he wants to get into, an environment that will test him. It will also test him how he’ll be like living away from home and experiencing that professional soccer lifestyle.

Of the new players, Jordan, Christian, and Jack, have already traveled to Jamaica in January with the smaller 20-man squad in preparation for the championships.

“To be picked for the first trip is very exciting for Jordan,” Valenti said. “He is a very dynamic player and can play a number of different spots in the midfield or up top. He is a gritty players and likes to mix things up.”

The U.S. U17 faced Jamaica twice this past week, drawing the first match and beating Jamaica the second time, with a 2-1 score. Zach, Jordan and Christian all started the first game while Jack came in as a sub, but started the second game.

“Christian is a very committed player,” said James. “His stature causes others to underestimate him, but as soon as they see him play, they realize the talent he has.”

Cabrera’s U.S. squad has returned to Bradenton to finalize the details and the roster before heading back to Jamaica on February 10th for the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament. The team will play in a 3-team group with Cuba and Panama. There are four such groups in the event, with two teams advancing from every group to the quarterfinals. The four quarterfinal winners will advance to the FIFA U17 World Cup, to be held in Mexico this June.

2011 U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Spring Semester Roster by Position (Detailed Roster - courtesy US Soccer)

GOALKEEPERS (4): Wade Hamilton (Arsenal FC; Murietta, Calif.), Jake McGuire (Chivas USA Academy; Chino, Calif.), Kendall McIntosh (Mustang Academy; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Fernando Piña (Houston Dynamo Academy; Houston, Texas)

DEFENDERS (12): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas Juniors; Plano, Texas), Zachary Carroll (Vardar; Grand Blanc, Mich.), Mobi Fehr (Tokyo Verdy 1969; Tokyo, Japan), AJ Jeffries (Chicago Fire Juniors; Downers Grove, Ill.), Michael King (Texans SC Houston; Spring, Texas), Luis Martir (Chivas Guadalajara; Los Angeles, Calif.), Alessandro Mion (Kendall SC; Miami, Fla.), Reed Norton (Concorde Fire; Evans, Ga.), Miguel Polley (Derby County Wolves; West Bloomfield, Mich.), Nathan Smith (Cal Odyssey; Clovis, Calif.), Andrew Souders (Crew Soccer Academy; Amherst, Ohio), Danny Zaid (Camp Elite Guatemala; Guatemala City)

MIDFIELDERS (15): Jordan Allen (Empire United; Rochester, N.Y.), Joseph Amon (South Carolina United FC; Summerville, S.C.), Marco Delgado (Cosmo Academy West; Glendora, Calif.), Christian Duarte (Texans SC Houston; League City, Texas), Patrick Foss (D.C. United Academy; South Riding, Va.), Alejandro Guido (Aztecs Premier; Chula Vista, Calif.), Fernando Laverde (FC Dallas; Cali, Colombia), Nicholas Melo (Florida Rush; Kissimmee, Fla.), Antonio Murillo (Neusport; Las Vegas, Nev.), Adam Najem (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Marc Pelosi (De Anza Force; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Esteban Rodriguez (Cosmos Academy West; Palmdale, Calif.), Tarik Salkicic (Strictly Soccer; Pinellas Park, Fla.), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids Academy; Brighton, Colo.), Colton Storm (HMMS Eagle FC; Mechanicsburg, Pa.)

FORWARDS (9): Paul Arriola (Arsenal FC; Chula Vista, Calif.), Kevin De La Torre (Chivas USA Academy; Winchester, Calif.), Daniel Flores (Cal Odyssey; Fresno, Calif.), Kellen Gulley (Mississippi Chicago Fire Juniors; Clinton, Miss.), Alfred Koroma (Solar Chelsea FC; Arlington, Texas), Jack McBean (Los Angeles Galaxy Academy; Newport Beach, Calif.), Alex Muyl (Cosmos Academy East; New York, N.Y.), Andrew Oliver (Westside United; Indianapolis, Ind.), Mario Rodriguez (Central Aztecs; North Hollywood, Calif.)