[AKRON MEN] Akron, which lost a record seven players taken in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft from its 2010 NCAA championship team, has given new meaning to rebuilding,bringing in eight more recruits — including three transfers — to go along with eight announced in February. Coach Caleb Porter‘s transfers include Tony Walls, a 2010 Hermann Trophy candidate at Wisconsin-Green Bay, and Aodhan Quinn, son of former U.S. international Brian Quinn and the 2010 Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year at Bradley, and Zach Portillos, who scored two game-winninggoals in 2010 for University of Washington.

Porter has also from in striker Akiel Barrett from Jamaica, defender David Mayer from England and Jean Pierre Van Der Merwe from South Africa.
 
“This has certainly been a grueling, seven-monthprocess to reload our team to a level on-par with our standards,” Porter said. “After the spring season, we felt there were still some major holes to fill. But with the addition of this final group oftalented players, I am satisfied we are finally there. We believe there are now quality personnel and depth in every position, and we should have all the pieces we need to put a championship caliberteam together in 2011.  We are excited to welcome this group to the Akron family and I look forward to their contributions.”

2011 AkronSignees
D Kayvon Afsarifard, Loyola, Ill.
F Akeil Barrett, Kingston, Jamaica/Calabar HS
M Dominic Bonilla, Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins HS
F Andy Chiu, El Pasco, Texas/Cornado HS
D Kyle Culbertson, Olentangy, Ohio/Olentangy HS
GK Jacob Fenlason, San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS
D/M Bryan Gallego, Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon HS
M/F Luke Holmes, Notre Dame College, Ohio
D DavidMayer, Wigan, England
M David Murrow, Cleveland, Ohio/Strongsville HS
M Aodhan Quinn, BradleyUniv.
M Zach Portillos, Univ. of Washington
M Wil Trapp, Gahanna, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln HS
GK Jean Pierre Van Der Merwe, Krugerdorp, South Africa
M Tony Walls, Wisconsin Green Bay
D DeAndre Yedlin, Seattle, Wash./O’Dea HS

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4 Comments

  2. Akron is “attracting” players who want to play attractive, possession oriented, attacking soccer. Can’t blame them for wanting to jump ship if there is a better opportunity at Akron. Success attracts talent. The Akron philosophy should be duplicated at all NCAA schools. There are too many old school coaches who are entrenched at their schools who have fallen behind the times in philosophy.

  3. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a college coach treat his program as if it was a pro team as much as Porter is. Will be fascinating to see how it works out.

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