Twelve players from the Houston Dynamo Academy signed letters of intent today and will continue their soccer careers at Division I programs this fall.
The group of signees is part of the Dynamo Academy U-18 team, under head coach and Houston Dynamo director of youth development James Clarkson.
“I’m very proud of all the boys,” said Clarkson. “The fact that 12 of them have now committed to Division I colleges shows the progress our Academy has made, and we recognize the important role local youth clubs have played in getting the players to this stage. We expect more of our players to go on and have successful college careers in the future. Every player that has successfully graduated our program has gone to college or turned pro and we are very proud of this.”
Several members of the signing group were members of the Dynamo Academy U-16 team that won its group at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs in July 2013 and reached Finals Week, held at Houston Sports Park.
“We are very dedicated to the responsibilities we have to these boys off the field,” said Dynamo U-16 head coach and assistant technical director Eddie Robinson. “When they leave this Academy, we are sure that they will not only be great soccer players, but also, young men who set the example of what it means to be model representatives of the highest, moral, educational, and aspirational values.”
Below are the Dynamo Academy members who signed letters of intent on Wednesday:
Gabriel Camera: University of New Mexico
High School: Fort Settlement
Position: Defender
Michael Cusack: High Point University
High School: St. Thomas Episcopal
Position: Defender
Matt Dorsey: University of New Mexico
High School: Klein Collins
Position: Defender
Zach Jackson: University of Tulsa
High School: Cypress Creek
Position: Midfielder
Bryce Marion: Stanford University
High School: Cypress Ranch
Position: Forward
Albion Neziri: Florida Atlantic University
High School: Nimitz
Position: Defender
Elo Ozumba: Northwestern University
High School: Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
Position: Forward
Irvin Ramirez: High Point University
High School: Elsik
Position: Midfielder
Daniel Rutter: Coastal Carolina University
High School: Clear Springs
Position: Midfielder
Louis Thomas: West Virginia University
High School: Lamar High School
Position: Defender
Emmanuel Usen: Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
High School: Cypress Springs
Position: Forward
Garrett Welch: Southern Methodist University
High School: Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
Position: Defender
