2021 MLS SuperDraft: Could players from New England get selected?
Josh Bauer earned All-American honors in two straight seasons at New Hampshire. (Gil Talbot)
The 2021 MLS SuperDraft is set for Jan. 21 and will be conducted virtually for the second year in a row.
The event has been reduced from four rounds to three rounds, with expansion side Austin FC picking first each time. Meanwhile, the New England Revolution are set to select 24th overall (first round), 51st overall (second round) and 78th overall (third round) after advancing to the 2020 Eastern Conference Final.
The SuperDraft's role is certainly diminished as academies and USL Championship/USL League One teams grow in prominence, but college soccer remains an important part of the sport's domestic landscape. Teams can find budget-friendly value that's often 20-22 years old, adding important depth or even a key starter.
With the SuperDraft now a month away, New England Soccer Journal is spotlighting locals who could be selected. The 2021 field is smaller, so some instead project into lower-league teams. Of note: Rather than going to preseason this winter, select players can compete for their college team during the Spring 2021 semester before reporting to their MLS club in late May. Let's call it the COVID-19 adjustment.
Tags: MLS, SuperDraft
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