ACC Soccer - Mens Recruiting 2008

There is really no argument that the ACC is king of college soccer conferences.  Last year the ACC produced Wake Forest as NCAA National Champions and Virgina Tech which finished ranked 3rd in the nation. Here is a brief overview of each school's 2008 recruiting class ready to make an impact next fall.

Boston College
As last year BC has not and probably will not publish anything official on their recruiting class.  Boston College will have a solid core coming back as 10 starters should return next year with three of those players earning 2007 Soccer America accolades all return in Alejandro Bedoya, Karl Reddick and Reuben Ayarna.

Clemson University
Clemson Head Men's Soccer Coach Trevor Adair has announced the signing of five players to national letters of intent to attend Clemson in the fall of 2008. Also a transfer will be joining the Tigers this fall.  The signees include: Connor Barbaree, Francklin Blaise, Nick Burton, Riley Sumpter, and Bo Godwin. Mackenzie Ward, a transfer from St. John's has enrolled at Clemson this past January.

"This is another strong recruiting class that will add to the young group of returning players," said Adair. "This class along with three players who red-shirted will have a major impact over the next four years. We will have some additional signees that will be announced at a later date that will only strengthen this already exciting class."

 Connor Barbaree from Marietta, GA and Concorde Fire
 Francklin Blaise from Miami, FL and Kendall SC
 Nick Burton from Acworth, GA and Concorde Fire
 Riley Sumpter from Chamblee, GA and Concorde Fire
 Bo Godwin from Decatur, AL and Tennessee FC
 Mackenzie Ward transfer from St. John's

Duke University
The Blue Devils have yet to make any announcements as to their 2008 recruiting class. We do know that Ian Kallis of Dallas, Texas and the US Under 17 National Team has signed though.  They will have huge questions to answer on the field as new coach John Kerr inherits a squad that loses 13 seniors from last season.  Last year's recruiting class that was ranked #1 in the nation by College Soccer News must step up and fill the holes.

Maryland Terrapins
Maryland men's soccer head coach Sasho Cirovski has announced what will undoubtedly be one of the top recruiting classes in the nation as eight student-athletes will join the Terrapins in 2008. Five student-athletes are NSCAA high school All-Americans and four of them have spent time with United States Youth National Teams. Included in the class is Casey Townsend, who joined Maryland in the spring semester and is ranked the No. 6 recruit in the country according to Rise Magazine.

The incoming class includes midfielder Karou Forbess (Garland, Texas), midfielder Matt Kassel (Bridgewater, N.J.), forward Alex Lee (Derwood, Md.), goalkeeper Zac MacMath (St. Petersburg, Fla.), midfielder/forward Conor O'Leary (Rochester, N.Y.), midfielder/forward Matt Oduaran (Bear, Del.), and midfielder/defender Tommy Schaeffler (Edgewater, Md.)

"I am extremely pleased to announce another outstanding recruiting class and welcome them into the Maryland Soccer family," Cirovski said. "Their individual resumes and soccer skills are both varied and impressive but more importantly, they embody all of the core values that we look for. They are all winners as they come from great families, have a passionate love for the game and are great competitors. Every one of these young men wanted to be a part of Maryland Soccer as much as we wanted them."

With the return of sophomores Jason Herrick and Kevin Tangney, the Terps look to be reloaded and poised for another postseason run.  "The infusion of this extremely talented class combined with the return of Jason Herrick and Kevin Tangney is reason enough to be excited for the 2008 season," Cirovski said. "When you add to that a hungry and focused returning group, it gets me really excited for all of the possibilities. We should have more competition at every position since the 2005 Championship season and that bodes well for our great fans."

 Karou Forbess from Garland, Tx and Solar SC
 Matt Kassel from Bridgewater, NJ and Red Bull NY
 Alex Lee from Derwood, Md and Potomac Cougars
 Zac MacMath from St. Petersburg, Fla. and Clearwater Chargers
 Conor O'Leary from Rochester, NY 
 Matt Oduaran from Bear, Del. and DC United Youth
 Tommy Schaeffler from Edgewater, Md. and SAC United

University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina men's soccer team has signed five prep standouts to national letters of intent, head coach Elmar Bolowich announced Wednesday. This group includes three student-athletes - all of whom played for the United States in last year's Under-17 World Cup - that have already enrolled at UNC. Four of the signees also have earned high school or youth All-America honors.  Forward Billy Schuler (Allentown, N.J.), midfielder Kirk Urso (Lombard, Ill.) and defender/forward Sheanon Williams (Monroe, N.C.) joined the Tar Heel program in January and have been training with the team this spring. All three were a part of the U.S. U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., and played in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea. The trio was also named to the 2007 PARADE High School All-America squad.  Also signing were San Diego defender/midfielder Jordan Gafa and Telford, Pa., midfielder/defender Chris Lebo, who will join the program in the fall in time for the 2008 season. Lebo is a two-time NSCAA/adidas Youth All-America selection also has U.S. National Team playing experience.

"We are excited about the addition of the incoming freshman class this year," said Bolowich, who will be coaching his 20th season at Carolina in 2008. "They are not only well-established soccer players but great individuals. Each signee will be a very good compliment to our team.

 Jordan Gafa from San Diego, Calif. and Arsenal FC
 Chris Lebo from Telford, PA and  Baltimore Casa Mia Bays
 Billy Schuler from Allentown, NJ and Matchfit Academy FC
 Kirk Urso fromLombard, Ill. and Chicago Sockers FC
 Sheanon Williams from Monroe, NC and FC Greater Boston Bolts

North Carolina State
The Wolfpack is another school that never seems to release any soccer recruiting information.  They need an infusion of talent sorely though after last year's bottom finish in the competetive ACC race.  NC State loses senior leader El Hadj Cisse, but returns Tyler Lassiter who was named to the ACC All Freshman Team.  The only recruit we have seen so far signing with the Wolfpack is Bryan Booth of Colleyville, Texas and Solar SC.

University of Virginia
Virginia head coach George Gelnovatch announced the signing of Christopher Agorsor, Shawn Barry, Hunter Jumper, Brian Ownby and Howard Turk to National Letters of Intent to play soccer for the Cavaliers beginning in the 2008-09 school year. Included in the class are four high school All-Americans, five US Youth National Team members and the National High School Player of the Year in Christopher Agorsor.

“We are very excited about this class and the overall talent and athleticism of the group,” Gelnovatch said.  “We’re going to be a young team next year, and how quickly these players can get integrated and become leaders themselves will be important to our success.”

 Christopher Agorsor from Severn, Md 
 Shawn Barry from Miramar, FL  
 Hunter Jumper of Addison TX and Solar SC
 Brian Ownby from Glen Allen, VA  
 Howard Turk from Falls Church, VA

Virginia Tech
The Hokies have yet to announce their 2008 signing class.  Virginia Tech will look to build upon last year's Final Four run but they will have to replace stud forward Patrick Nyarko who was selected 7th overall in the MLS Superdraft.

Wake Forest
The Wake Forest Men's Soccer Program is proud to announce the team's 2008 signing class, which features four National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American selections.  The class is composed of Kyle Adams, Chris Estridge, Sean Haglund, Nick Millington, Luke Norman, Jesse Sokolow, and Danny Wenzel.

"The Wake Forest soccer staff is excited to have the opportunity to work with these seven talented student-athletes as they accept the challenges and opportunities that Wake Forest will present them academically and athletically," Head Coach Jay Vidovich said.

 Dan Wenzel from Federal Way, WA and US U17s
 Sean Haglund from Raleigh, NC and CASL Elite
 Chris Estridge from Indianapolis, IN and Carmel United
 Luke Norman from Rochester, MI and Vardar
 Kyle Adams - D - 6'2 - Fayetteville, Ga. and AFC Lightning
 Nick Millington - M/D - 5'9 - Raleigh, NC and CASL 
 Jesse Sokolow - D - 6'2 - Reston, Va.