MLS seems to have been way ahead of the curve this season and has their Generation adidas class already wrapped up. Joining these nine underclassmen are four seniors MLS has signed early. Five of the Gas are from Akron and one is an unattached US U20 form EL Paso.

Of note to local fans will be Stephen McCarthy, whom I have long expected to be a professional. He played for the Dallas Cup winning Texans side of a few years ago.

2011 Generation adidas class:

Player Pos. Age Hometown College/Youth Club National Team Experience

Will Bruin F 21 St. Louis, MO Indiana University U-20

• A 2010 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Finalist.
• Finished his college career with 33 goals through 66 games played in three seasons at Indiana.
• Named the BigTen Freshman of the year in 2008 and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year tin 2010.

Corey Hertzog F 20 Reading, PA Penn State University

• A M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
• 2010 NCAA leading goal scorer with 20 goals
• Earned 2010 First Team All-Big Ten honors

Perry Kitchen D 18 Indianapolis, IN University of Akron U.S. U-17, U-20

• Member of U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, FL
• Helped lead Akron to the 2010 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship
• Named to the 24 man roster for the U.S. U-20 training camp in January

Zac MacMath GK 19 St. Petersburg, FL University of Maryland U.S. U-17, U-18, U-20, U-23

• 2010 NSCAA First Team All-American
• Joined the U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program in 2006 and started two games in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
• Led the U-20 team to a Milk Cup Championship in the summer of 2010 in Northern Ireland
• Earned lowest goals-against average in NCAA (.44 GAA) in 2008 as a freshman and set a program record for shutouts in a season with 15 in 2010

Darlington Nagbe M/F 20 Lakewood, OH University of Akron

• 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist
• Started all 23 games and helped Akron reach the College Cup for the second consecutive season
• A 2010 NSCAA First Team All-American and Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 2010

Michael Nanchoff M 21 North Royalton, OH University of Akron

• First Team All-Mid-American Conference in 2010
• 2010 College Cup All-Tournament Team
• Scored a career high 10 goals and was third on team with nine assists

Omar Salgado F 17 El Paso Texas U.S. U-20

• Played for the U-20 National Team at the 2010 Milk Cup
• Scored in his debut for the U.S. U-20 team against China

Kofi Sarkodie D 19 Huber Heights, OH University of Akron U.S. U-15, U-17, U-18, U-20

• 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
• 2010 NSCAA First Team All-American
• Played for the U.S. in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup

Zarek Valentin D 19 Lancaster, PA University of Akron U.S. U-15, U-17, U-18, U-20

• 2009 Mid-America Conference Newcomer of the Year
• Played for the U.S. in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2010 Milk Cup with the U-20 team

Collegiate Senior Signings:

Jalil Anibaba D 22 Davis, CA University of North Carolina U.S. U-18, U-20

• 2010 First Team All-ACC
• 2007 WCC Freshman of the Year
• Played for U.S. U-20 squad vs. Haiti on March 28, 2007 in a 2-1 victory

Michael Farfan M 22 San Diego, CA University of North Carolina U.S. U-17

• Member of 2007 U.S. U-17 FIFA World Cup Squad
• Two time NSCAA First Team All-American (2009, 2010)
• 2006 Big West Freshman of the Year

Stephen McCarthy M 22 Colleyville, TX University of North Carolina

• 2010 Second Team All-ACC
• Two-time All-WCC selection while with Santa Clara (2007-08) and an honorable mention selection (2006).
• Helped lead UNC to the 2010 NCAA Men’s College Cup Final Four

AJ Soares D 22 Solana Beach, CA University of California

• M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
• 2010 NSCAA First Team All-American
• 2010 Pac-10 Player of the Year