Former Terp midfielder Drew Yates at the MLS Combine this week. Photo credit: Getty Images
UPDATE: Both Drew Yates and Kevin Tangney heard their names called Thursday. The Chicago Fire selected Yates with the 29th pick (2nd round). Tangney was taken six picks later by Chivas USA in the third round. That makes 16 Terp MLS draft picks in the league’s history.
Like any pre-draft event, the MLS Combine is a proving ground of sorts. But of the two Terrapin men’s soccer players invited to this year’s camp, it seems only one showed he belonged in tomorrow’s 2010 MLS Superdraft.
By all accounts, midfielder Drew Yates saw his draft stock soar with a strong showing this week in Lauderhill, Fla. According to Pro Player Pipeline creator and occasional Ludwig Field denizen Joe Mauceri, Yates was one of the more consistent performers among his peers. From his log of Yates’s day-to-day performance:
“Drew Yates (White) – did ok today – nothing special, I figured the only thing missing was the flop in the box; I just don’t where he’d play in MLS; he’s good on the ball – so maybe someone tries him at AM, he’s not fast enough to play wide midfielder in MLS; he’s not a forward and do you really want a 22 year old withdrawn forward? from 1/11/10 (+); Having a whale of a combine with very elusive first touches – buyers beware; from 1/09/10 (adequate); finished the penalty kick, continues to fall too easily – sometimes picking up the foul, but other times being waved off – this led to the 4th goal. Yates is not a MLS AM.
ESPNSoccernet.com columnist Ives Galarcep projected Yates to the Kansas City Wizards with the 20th pick in tomorrow’s draft in his final mock draft, noting:
Was already a good prospect before the Combine, but his strong showing at the Combine pushes him into the Top 20. He can play wide or centrally, but ultimately he can pass well and move well, which will be all Peter Vermes will ask.
Defender Kevin Tangney, who became the Terps’ feel-good story this year after successfully returning to the pitch following two separate knee injuries, was not as fortunate as his College Park running mate. From Mauceri’s reports, Tangney was regularly outclassed at the combine, likely decimating his chances of hearing his name called tomorrow.
I’m hoping to get in touch with both following tomorrow’s draft, which commences at 2 p.m. in Philadelphia, and get some thoughts on their respective futures.
Jonas Shaffer is The Diamondback’s men’s soccer beat writer. He can be reached at shaffer@umdbk.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/jonas_shaffer.