MLS Academy Alumni in College: 2022 Preview

by Travis Clark

August 24, 2022

As MLS Academies grow and continue to evolve, college soccer remains a viable path for several players that aren’t signed immediately as a teenager.

With the new Division I men’s season kicking off, take a team-by-team look at some of the most prominent MLS Academy alumni to watch this season.

Atlanta United

One of the better academies when it comes to producing DI talent of late, Wake Forest has a handful of key players from Atlanta. That includes Garrison Tubbs, a very solid center back, Takuma Suzuki in the midfield and Chase Oliver in the attacking third.

Others to Know: D Garrison Tubbs (Wake Forest), D Andrew Durkin (Air Force), D Kobey Stoup (Air Force), F Liam Butts (Penn State), F Thomas Toney (Yale), GK Russell Shealy (Syracuse), D Kendall Edwards (NC State), GK Collin Travasos (California), M Takuma Suzuki (Wake Forest), M Chase Oliver (Wake Forest), M Dylan Gaither (Mercer), D Natnael McDonald (Mercer), D Luke Mitchell (Creighton), D Matthew Edwards (North Carolina), F Miguel Ramirez (Duke), M Remi Smith (Air Force), M Asparuh Slavov (Virginia), F Amari Salley (Virginia), D Nigel Prince (Northwestern), M Daniel Mangarov (Virginia), F Andy Sullins (Virginia), D Brandon Clagette (Northwestern), D Grant Howard (Virginia Tech)

Chicago Fire

After his older brother signed a Homegrown deal with the Fire, Luka Bezerra should be in the frame to replace at least some of that production at Indiana as a freshman this fall.

Others to Know: F Patrick Ajdukiewicz (Louisville), D David Mysiuk (Dartmouth), M Alan Salmeron (Marquette), D Eduardo Garcia (UIC), D Aaron Nguyen (UIC), M Andres Moreno (UIC), F Roberto Alonzo (UIC), F Josh Torres (UIC), M Francisco Espinoza (UIC), F Luka Bezerra (Indiana), D Ryan Quintos (Wisconsin), D Max Viera (Georgetown), D Christian Baumgartner (Kentucky), GK Jackson Weyman (South Florida), D Kyle Bebej (Marquette), D Diegoarmando Alvarado (Marquette)

Charlotte FC

Fielding only a U17 team this past season, Charlotte FC’s Christopher Thaggard will be one of the first alumni to step into the college game at Northwestern.

Others to Know: M Samy Kolby (Charlotte)