MLS SuperDraft : Who To Watch in the MLS Combine

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 19: A ball signed by the draftees sits on display on the side of the stage during the MLS SuperDraft 2018 on January 19, 2018, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

With the 2019 MLS SuperDraft Combine fast approaching, we look at some of the most interesting players on the invite list at each position

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas is over, New Years is around here somewhere, and the MLS SuperDraft coverage time is upon us! The 2019 MLS SuperDraft will be held in Chicago on January 11th. We will get to some more fun specifics as we get closer to the big day, but right now the big focus is that about a week or so ago MLS released their initial list of 60 players to be invited to the MLS Combine down in Orlando.

It’s an initial list because they like to add in Generation Adidas players and random Youth International players later on in the process. For now, it’s these 60 college seniors. “But that’s a lot of names and a lot of research,” you might say. And I’ll say, “You’re gosh dang right,” because I did all of that research (Okay, most of it) for you and picked out some names to go into depth about.

Before we begin, I’d like to make sure that we all keep in mind that just like how it is with every other sport that has players going from college to professional, there’s always players whose games do not translate for whatever reason. Whether it be that they never got a chance on their drafted team or that they were just playing against really terrible competition and were just the best of a bad bunch. There’s all these different factors and in a league like MLS it’s very common for many of these guys to not pan out. This is why the job of scouting these players is so important so that you don’t miss out on a future MLS legend in the third round. I’d like to specifically shout-out Top Drawer Soccer, whose Top 100 lists help those of us who can’t watch every. single. college soccer game. and instead gives us a great framework to start from.

Now we can start:

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 25: Michigan State goalkeeper Jimmy Hague (1) makes the save of the shot on goal by Georgetown Hoyas Derek Dodson (9) late in the second half at Cooper Field on the campus of Georgetown University November 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Georgetown Hoyas lost 1-0 to the Michigan State Spartans. (Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Goalkeepers

Jimmy Hague, Michigan State University

One of the biggest things you want out a goalkeeper is consistency and especially consistency against quality opponents. Playing in the Big 10 means that Hague had to go up against at least two of the best teams in the country, sometimes twice a year. Despite that, he still managed to keep his Goals Against Average to 0.7, stood on the line for 26 career shutouts, and has a career save percentage of 0.812. This sort of experience will absolutely give him an advantage in the MLS Combine and hopefully an advantage for whatever team drafts him.

Rashid Nuhu, Fordham University

Of all the goalkeepers invited to the Combine, Nuhu has the most shutouts at 30. Not really spectacular anywhere else until you notice that he’s made 242 saves. With a save percentage of 0.771 we can use math to figure out that he was able to get those 30 shutouts while facing somewhere around 313 shots. These may be a lot of seemingly meaningless numbers, but at least they sound important. We’ll see what happens for him at the MLS Combine.

Dylan Castanheira, Columbia University

Speaking of “best invited to the Combine” stats, Castanheira has a GAA of just 0.53 and a save percentage of 0.842. That just screams “impressive”, but then we take a step back from the numbers and look at his competition. The Ivy League isn’t bad by any stretch, but the competition isn’t exactly top flight. If anything, he’s someone to pick up and develop on your USL squad. He’s on the list of people who will be interesting to see face bigger competition in the MLS Combine than in their college careers.

James Pyle, University of North Carolina

Pyle is some sort of mix of the other three reports I just gave. He comes from a team in heavy competition in the ACC, also has 30 shutouts, and has an insanely low GAA at 0.59. This past season was his best with his GAA at 0.51 and nine total shutouts. Really, just an overall performer between the sticks. The big question is how much of it is his defense. North Carolina is one of the best teams in the country and that means that they also have a great defense to go along with it. While it probably won’t be tested in the MLS Combine, the big question for him is can he maintain his same work rate with a less than stellar defense against an attack like Atlanta’s.

These have been some players to watch out for at the 2019 MLS SuperDraft Combine, which starts in Orlando on January 3rd. Be sure to keep an eye out here for more Draft coverage from me as we await the Generation Adidas player announcements and get deeper into draft season.