Generation Adidas players at the ready for 2014 MLS SuperDraft

This week, the list of Generation Adidas players was announced ahead of the MLS SuperDraft, which will take place on Jan. 16 in Philadelphia, Pa. MLS has also signed two college seniors in advance of the SuperDraft and invited nine more players to the 2014 adidas MLS Player Combine that begins next Friday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

So, how does this Generation adidas thing work? Well, players who join MLS as part of the Generation adidas program receive the opportunity to develop their game and hone their skills at the professional level.

In addition to training and playing with one of Major League Soccer’s 19 professional clubs, Generation adidas players receive educational grants to further their college education. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team’s salary budget. Swell deal? You bet!

Interestingly, there are only four Generation adidas Players and two signed seniors. Here they are.

2014 Generation adidas Players

Andre Blake GK Mary Pen, Jamaica University of Connecticut
The junior goalkeeper was named an All-American for the third straight year, earning back-to-back First Team nods in 2012 and 2013, and has been a member of the U-17 and U-20 Jamaican national teams.

Marlon Hairston M Jackson, Mississippi University of Louisville
The sophomore midfielder and member of the U.S. U-20 national team pool played in 39 games during his first two seasons, contributing six goals and five assists.

Eric Miller D Woodbury, Minnesota Creighton University
The junior defender started 62 of 63 games during his tenure at Creighton and represented the U.S. in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

Ntokozo “Schillo” Tshuma F Bulawayo, Zimbabwe University of Maryland
The sophomore forward helped Maryland advance to the 2013 Men’s College Cup final, scoring six goals on the season.

2014 Signed Seniors

Patrick Mullins F New Orleans, Louisiana University of Maryland
The back-to-back First Team All-American and MAC Hermann Trophy finalist lead Maryland in scoring for the 2013 season with 19 goals in 26 games played.

Steve Neumann F New Hope, Pennsylvania Georgetown University
A Second Team All-American for two years in a row, Neumann has been indispensable for the Hoyas in his last two seasons with 20 goals and 19 assists.

These six players will be at the 2014 MLS Player Combine, joining these seniors.

Player                          Position           Citizenship       School

Tesho Akindele             F                      USA/Canada     Colorado School of Mines (Division II)

Chris Duvall                  D                      USA                 Wake Forest University

Oliver Gore                   F                      England            Rocky Mountain College (NAIA)

Pierre Omanga              F                      France              Southern New Hampshire University (Division II)

Fabio Pereira                MF                   Brazil                University of Michigan

Kyle Renfro                   GK                   USA                 Virginia Tech University

Patrick Slogic               D                      Brazil                Cornell University

Wojciech Wojcik            F                      USA                 Bradley University

Tomislav Zadro             MF                   Canada             University of Wisconsin

Stay tuned later this month for a Mock Draft of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft here on FanSided’s MLS Multiplex.