The University of Akron Athletics
Mattocks Signs Generation adidas Contract, Will Enter 2012 MLS Draft
December 20 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron striker Darren Mattocks has signed a contract with Generation adidas and will enter the 2012 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, the MLS announced Tuesday.
Mattocks, who scored 39 goals in 47 career matches as a Zip, will forgo his final two years of eligibility at UA to turn professional. According to Soccer by Ives, the Jamaican native could be taken with one of the top two picks of the draft.
"We are extremely happy for Darren," said UA head coach Caleb Porter. "He has proven over the last two years that he can produce goals at the highest levels of college soccer. Now he will have the opportunity to showcase his talents in MLS as a Generation adidas player."
When Mattocks is drafted into MLS, he will join a long list of former UA players currently competing in the league. As it stands now, Akron has 13 players on a MLS roster after setting a league record with seven draftees a year ago. All 13 standouts played for and were developed by Porter, who is currently serving in a dual role as the head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team.
"The Generation adidas contract always gives young professionals the best platform to make a jump," Porter added. "Not only will he have stability in the form of guaranteed years and compensation, but also the academic security to be able to finish his degree when the time is right. Darren is clearly ready for the next step in his career and I know he will do very well. We wish him all the best and will look forward to watching him blossom for many years to come."
It is the fourth consecutive season an Akron player has signed one of the coveted Generation adidas contracts. Steve Zakuani was the first to do it in 2008, teammates Teal Bunbury and Blair Gavin followed in 2009, and five underclassmen from the Zips' National Championship team – including Perry Kitchen, Darlington Nagbe, Michael Nanchoff, Kofi Sarkodie and Zarek Valentin – did the same in 2010.
The 2012 MLS SuperDraft, which will be broadcast live on ESPN2, will be held on Jan. 12 at Noon (ET) in Kansas City, Mo. The 19 MLS clubs will select a total of 38 players.
The expansion franchise Montreal Impact, who already owns the rights to a trio of Zips' standouts, including Evan Bush, Sinisa Ubiparipovic and Valentin, has the No. 1 in the draft. The Vancouver Whitecaps, who drafted Nanchoff No. 8 overall as an expansion franchise in 2011, own the No. 2 pick this year.
As a Generation adidas signee, Mattocks will be invited to participate in the 2012 MLS Player Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., from Jan. 6-10 in anticipation of the draft. There, he will be joined by Akron senior Luke Holmes, who received an invitation to the showcase earlier this month.
Mattocks was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy and was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year this fall after netting 21 goals, which was the third-highest single-season total in school history, in 22 matches. The striker, who was the second-highest scoring freshman in the country in 2010, leaves the University after scoring 39 goals in 47 matches during his two-year career.
Mattocks is the fourth UA sophomore to enter the draft in as many seasons, following Zakuani, Bunbury and Valentin. Kitchen, who played one season at Akron, was the youngest to enter the draft in 2010.
Generation Adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by adidas, encourages early entry (without college graduation) of American players into MLS. Entering into the program automatically classifies a player as professional and thus, disqualifies them from playing college soccer. As a result, Generation adidas players are also guaranteed scholarships to continue their college education should their professional career not pan out.
UA Players Currently in MLS
Anthony Ampaipitakwong, San Jose Quakes
Teal Bunbury, Sporting KC
Evan Bush, Montreal Impact
Blair Gavin, Chivas USA
Perry Kitchen, DC United
Chris Korb, DC United
Darlington Nagbe, Portland Timbers
Michael Nanchoff, Vancouver Whitecaps
Kofi Sarkodie, Houston Dynamo
Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Montreal Impact
Zarek Valentin, Montreal Impact
Steve Zakuani, Seattle Sounders
Ben Zemanski, Chivas USA
