List of Akron Zips in the MLS Draft

The University of Akron men's soccer team. has had 23 players drafted in Major League Soccer (MLS) as well as seven non-drafted players (most due to homegrown rights). Youth New Zealand international Cameron Knowles was the first 'Zip' to be drafted and play in MLS when he appeared for the Real Salt Lake against the Los Angeles Galaxy on June 22, 2007. In the 2011 draft, the University of Akron made MLS history when five players were selected in the first round, including picks number two through four (as well as pick seven and eight).[1]

footballer in green and blue dribbles a ball down the field
Steve Zakuani playing for the Seattle Sounders FC in 2010

Steve Zakuani made an appearance on the DR Congo National Team, and Teal Bunbury, DeAndre Yedlin, Wil Trapp, Perry Kitchen, and Darlington Nagbe have all featured for the United States Men's National Team. Kofi Sarkodie and Zarek Valentin have played for the United States U-20's while Jonathan Lewis, Blair Gavin and Anthony Ampaipitakwong have played for the U-20's and U-17's. Cameron Knowles was part of the New Zealand U-17 squad during the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship

Player selection

MLS draft
Year Round Pick Overall Player Position MLS team Current team Notes
20054137New Zealand Cameron KnowlesDefenderReal Salt LakeRetired
20073733Bosnia and Herzegovina Siniša UbiparipovićMidfielderNew York Red BullsRetired
2009111Democratic Republic of the Congo Steve ZakuaniMidfielderSeattle Sounders FCRetired[2]
2010144United States Teal BunburyForwardSporting Kansas CityNew England Revolution
201011010United States Blair GavinMidfielderChivas USARetired
201031647United States Ben ZemanskiMidfielderChivas USARetired[3]
2011122United States Darlington NagbeMidfielderPortland TimbersColumbus Crew SC[4]
2011133United States Perry KitchenMidfielderD.C. UnitedLA Galaxy[5]
2011144United States Zarek ValentinDefenderChivas USAHouston Dynamo
2011177United States Kofi SarkodieDefenderHouston DynamoUnattached[6]
2011188United States Michael NanchoffMidfielderVancouver Whitecaps FCRetired[7]
201121331United States Chris KorbDefenderD.C. UnitedUnattached[5]
201121533Thailand Anthony AmpaipitakwongMidfielderSan Jose EarthquakesThailand Bangkok United
2012122Jamaica Darren MattocksForwardVancouver Whitecaps FCFC Cincinnati[8]
20133341United States David MevesGoalkeeperPortland TimbersUnattached
20142827United States Robbie DerschangDefenderPhiladelphia UnionUnattached
201421534United States Eric StevensonMidfielderNew York Red BullsRetired
201431452United States Aodhan QuinnMidfielderPhiladelphia UnionOrange County SC
201441976Costa Rica Reinaldo BrenesForwardSporting Kansas CityUnattached
201511212United States Saad Abdul-SalaamDefenderSporting Kansas CityFC Cincinnati
2016177Canada Richie LaryeaMidfielderOrlando City SCCanada Toronto FC
2017133United States Jonathan LewisForwardNew York City FCColorado Rapids
201721436United States Danilo RadjenDefenderHouston DynamoUnattached
2018111Portugal João MoutinhoDefenderLos Angeles FCOrlando City SC
20182831Philippines Niko De VeraDefenderNew York Red BullsPortland Timbers 2
20183248United States Nate ShultzDefenderLA GalaxyUnattached
201831831New Zealand Stuart HolthusenForwardPortland TimbersUnattached
201921337Germany Ben LundtGoalkeeperFC CincinnatiFC Cincinnati
201921943Somalia Abdi MohamedDefenderNew York City FCUnattached

Non-draft MLS players
Date Player Position MLS team Current team Notes
October 21, 2011United States Evan BushGoalkeeperMontreal ImpactCanada Columbus Crew SCSigned for 2012 season[9]
December 13, 2012United States Wil TrappMidfielderColumbus Crew SCInter MiamiSigned as Home Grown Player[10]
January 10, 2013United States Chad BarsonDefenderColumbus Crew SCRetiredSigned as Home Grown Player[11]
January 11, 2013United States DeAndre YedlinDefenderSeattle Sounders FCEngland Newcastle United F.C.Signed as Home Grown Player[12]
January 18, 2013United States Dillon SernaMidfielderColorado RapidsColorado RapidsSigned as Home Grown Player[13]
January 21, 2013United States Scott CaldwellMidfielderNew England RevolutionNew England RevolutionSigned as Home Grown Player[14]
February 8, 2017Afghanistan Adam NajemMidfielderNew York Red BullsMemphis 901 FCTraded Red Bulls Homegrown Rights to Philadelphia Union

References
  1. Travis Clark (2011-01-13). "Akron sets new record for SuperDraft success". Mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  2. Gaschk, Matt. "Gaschk on the SuperDraft". Soundersfc.com. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  3. Portland Timbers (2013-02-13). "Timbers acquire midfielder Ben Zemanski from Chivas USA in exchange for allocation money, right of first refusal to Jonathan Bornstein". Portlandtimbers.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-15. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  4. Portland Timbers (2011-01-12). "Timbers Select Nagbe, Taylor in 2011 MLS SuperDraft". Portlandtimbers.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  5. D.C. United selects Kitchen and Korb in 2011 MLS SuperDraft
  6. Jonathan Yardley (2011-01-13). "Sarkodie part of Akron's big day". Houstondynamo.com. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  7. "Timbers sign midfielder Michael Nanchoff". Portlandtimbers.com. 2013-02-21. Archived from the original on 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  8. "Whitecaps FC select Darren Mattocks in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft". Whitecapsfc.com. 2012-01-12. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  9. Impact Media (2011-10-20). "Impact signs goalkeeper Evan Bush for 2012 MLS roster". Impactmontreal.com. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
  10. Impact Media (2012-12-13). "Crew Signs Wil Trapp to Homegrown Contract". TheCrew.com. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  11. Crew Communications (2012-01-10). "Crew signs Defender Chad Barson to Homegrown contract". Thecrew.com. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  12. Sounders FC Public Relations (2013-01-11). "Sounders FC Signs First Homegrown Player". SoundersFC.com. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
  13. Denver Post (2013-01-18). "Rapids sign homegrown player Dillon Serna". denverpost.com. Retrieved 2013-01-22.
  14. New England Revolution (2013-12-21). "Revs sign Scott Caldwell as Homegrown player". RevolutionSoccer.net. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
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