MLS Combine/Hermann Trophy

Best Of The Best

Interesting item this week...the MLS released the 55 players invited to the MLS Combine; ostensibly the best players in America at the college level.

If you scan through the NSCAA's list of the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy semi-finalists, you'll find a mere six of those 16 players on both lists.

The other 49 are good enough that the MLS has offered a shot at the big time, but not good enough for the college selection committee to put in the top 16...talent identification (or, human resources/hiring) is the toughest part of any business, and clearly what works well at one level doesn't translate to the next level every time.  Past performance does not indicate future returns...

MLS Combine Invitees (Hermann Trophy Semifinalists in red):
SaadAbdul-Salaam University of Akron
MiguelAguilarUniversity of San Francisco
FataiAlasheMichigan State
TylerArnoneUniversity of Michigan
DominiqueBadji Boston University
OumarBallo UMBC
LaurieBell UW-Milwaukee
SalvadorBernal UNLVM
NickBesler Notre Dame
AdriaBeso MarcoUConn
AndrewBevinWest Virginia 
EricBirdUniversity of Virginia
ConnorBrandtUniversity of San Diego
SergioCampbellUConn
SethCasipleCalifornia
WesleyCharpieUniversity of South Florida
AndyCravenUniversity of North Carolina
OtisEarlUC Riverside
EarlEdwards, Jr.UCLA
MarcFenelusCalifornia State University Fullerton
OnielFisherUniversity of New Mexico
TomasGomezGeorgetown
ConnorHalliseyCalifornia
CameronIwasaUC Irvine
DanielKellerUniversity of Louisville
RobertKristoSt. Louis University
SagiLev-AriCalifornia State University Northridge
RobLovejoyUniversity of North Carolina
FabioMachadoProvidence College
IgnacioMagantoIona College
AnthonyManningSt. Louis University
RamonMartin DelCampoUC Davis
ShawnMcLawsCoastal Carolina University
DanMetzgerUniversity of Maryland
TylerMillerNorthwestern
LukeMishuNotre Dame
AdamMontagueMichigan State
CraigNittiLoyola Marymount
BoydOkwuonuUniversity of North Carolina
TimParkerSt. John’s University
NikolaPaunicUniversity of South Florida
MattPolsterSIU-Edwardsville
JoseRibasCreighton University
SidneyRiveraOld Dominion University
JamesRogersUniversity of New Mexico
ManoloSanchezClemson University
WillSeymourOregon State
KhirySheltonOregon State
AaronSimmonsUCLA
LeoStoltzUCLA
AndyThomaUniversity of Washington
SkylarThomasSyracuse University
AndrewTusaazemajjaUCLA
ChristianVoleskySIU-Edwardsville
AndrewWolvertonPennState