2015: Jordan Morris
The 2015 winner of the MAC Hermann Trophy was none other than Seattle Sounders superstar Jordan Morris. A former Stanford Cardinal, Morris was regarded as one of America’s top players of the future following his college career. He won the NCAA Championship in 2015 and was later drafted by the Sounders in the 2016 Draft.
Morris has gone on to have a very respectable career with the Sounders which has included two MLS Cup titles in 2016 and 2019. He’s been a key part of Seattle’s recent success and has scored 10 goals or more in both of those MLS Cup-winning seasons.
On the international level, Morris has been a USMNT regular throughout his career, especially in 2019. In 2017 he helped the U.S. win the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He scored 10 goals in 39 appearances in his career thus far with the USMNT.
Currently, Morris is one of the MLS’ top attacking players and has stormed back from an ACL injury in 2018. The 25-year-old is well on the way to becoming an MLS and USMNT legend.
2016: Ian Harkes
A D.C. United Academy product, Ian Harkes earned the MAC Hermann Trophy in 2016 after a stellar season for Wake Forest. He led Wake Forest to an appearance in the NCAA Championship during the 2016 season and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
By signing a Homegrown Contract, Harkes ended up with D.C. United in 2017. He would go on to play two seasons for the MLS club with 33 appearances in the league. At the end of the 2018 campaign, however, he was released.
Harkes ended up at Scottish club Dundee United in 2019, where he still is currently. Playing time has been much more regular for the 25-year-old in Scotland. This past season, he made 31 appearances in all competitions for Dundee United and scored two goals.