
DeGraffenreidt, Johnson Invited to 2017 MLS Player Combine
December 14, 2016 | Men's Soccer
Senior tandem among 53 NCAA Division I players on initial list of participants for combine in advance of MLS SuperDraft
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's soccer seniors Michael DeGraffenreidt and Daniel Johnson were among 53 NCAA Division I players invited to participate in the 2017 adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine as announced Wednesday by the organization.
The collegiate players will showcase their talents in front of representatives from all 22 MLS clubs in Los Angeles, California from Jan. 8-12, 2017. All invited players will be eligible for selection in the 2017 SuperDraft presented by adidas which will take place at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 13 at the LA Convention Center in conjunction with the NSCAA Convention.
A committee of MLS coaches and NCAA Division I coaches from every conference selected the invitees, all of whom completed their college eligibility this season. Further invitees including Generation adidas signings, non-collegiate players, and additional college seniors will be announced in the coming weeks.
DeGraffenreidt appeared in 77 matches, including 76 starts, during his four-year collegiate career and was a key member of Louisville's backline throughout. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, DeGraffenreidt made 18 starts as a senior in 2016 as the Cardinals registered 10 shutouts overall, their highest single season total since 2011. While starting 19 matches in 2015 and 22 matches in 2014, DeGraffenreidt began his Louisville career by earning Second Team All-American Athletic Conference honors and begin named to league's All-Rookie Team in 2013.
Johnson played two seasons for the Cardinals and earned All-ACC accolades in each of those after transferring from Maryland. This season, Johnson was an All-ACC Third Team honoree scoring two goals and adding five assists while starting all 22 matches for No. 6 Louisville. In his first season with the Cardinals in 2015, the native of Duluth, Georgia was an All-ACC Second Team selection scoring five goals in 19 total starts.
With head coach Ken Lolla at the helm at the University of Louisville, the Cardinals have been very successful in sending players into professional soccer and specifically Major League Soccer. Including the 2012 draft, Louisville has produced five first round selections in the MLS SuperDraft, including Andrew Farrell as the No. 1 overall pick in 2013. The Cardinals have also had two or more selections in the first two rounds of the SuperDraft four times highlighted by a school record four selections in 2012. Overall, 13 players from the University of Louisville have been chosen in the MLS SuperDraft since 2012.
No. 4 Louisville closed the 2016 season with a 14-6-2 record after falling to No. 5 Stanford in the last Saturday's NCAA Championship quarterfinal match at Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium.
Fans can follow Louisville men's soccer on Twitter (@UofLmenssoccer) at http://twitter.com/uoflmenssoccer and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/UofLmenssoccer.
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