IU's Eriq Zavaleta signs pro contract

by Travis Clark

January 5, 2013

The 2013 Generation adidas class added another young and promising talent on Friday.

Indiana University forward Eriq Zavaleta signed a Generation adidas deal and will enter the 2013 MLS SuperDraft after two standout years at the storied institution.

The signing, first reported by Ives Galarcep, was confirmed Saturday morning on Twitter by Zavaleta's agent Ron Waxman.

Congratulations to my newest client and newest #MLS Generation Adidas signing, Indiana U's Eriq Zavaleta @_air_riq_ who signed last night.
— Ron Waxman (@RonWaxman) January 5, 2013

A former member of both the U17 and U20 MNT player pool, Zavaleta wraps up an outstanding college career that saw him score 28 goals in 46 games playing primarily as a forward. He assisted on the championship-winning goal in Indiana's 1-0 defeat of Georgetown in the College Cup final, after scoring 18 goals in the 2012 season. A center back during his club soccer days, and could end up playing at the back at the professional level.

Zavaleta becomes the fifth official member of the 2013 GA Class that will be available for the January 17 MLS SuperDraft, joining Mikey Lopez (North Carolina), Jason Johnson (VCU), Walker Zimmerman (Furman) and Andrew Farrell (Louisville).

Gambian forward Kekuta Manneh and UCF forward Deshorn Brown are also expected to be included in the current Generation adidas class that will take part in the MLS Combine and draft.