List of Akron Zips in the MLS Draft explained

The University of Akron men's soccer team. has had drafted in Major League Soccer (MLS) as well as seven non-drafted players (most due to homegrown rights). Youth New Zealand international Cameron Knowles was the first 'Zip' to be drafted and play in MLS when he appeared for the Real Salt Lake against the Los Angeles Galaxy on June 22, 2007. In the 2011 draft, the University of Akron made MLS history when five players were selected in the first round, including picks number two through four (as well as pick seven and eight).^[1]

Steve Zakuani made an appearance on the DR Congo National Team, and Teal Bunbury, DeAndre Yedlin, Wil Trapp, Perry Kitchen, and Darlington Nagbe have all featured for the United States Men's National Team. Kofi Sarkodie and Zarek Valentin have played for the United States U-20's while Jonathan Lewis, Blair Gavin and Anthony Ampaipitakwong have played for the U-20's and U-17's. Cameron Knowles was part of the New Zealand U-17 squad during the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship

Player selection

MLS draft

Year	Round	Pick	Overall	Player	Position	MLS team	Current team	Notes
	4	1	37				Retired
	3	7	33				Retired
	1	1	1				Retired	^[2]
	1	4	4
	1	10	10				Retired
	3	16	47				Retired	^[3]
	1	2	2					^[4]
	1	3	3					^[5]
	1	4	4
	1	7	7				Unattached	^[6]
	1	8	8				Retired	^[7]
	2	13	31				Unattached
	2	15	33
	1	2	2					^[8]
	3	3	41				Unattached
	2	8	27				Unattached
	2	15	34				Retired
	3	14	52
	4	19	76	Reinaldo Brenes			Unattached
	1	12	12
	1	7	7
	1	3	3
	2	14	36				Unattached
	1	1	1
	2	8	31
	3	2	48	Nate Shultz			Unattached
	3	18	31				Unattached
	2	13	37
	2	19	43

Non-draft MLS players

Date	Player	Position	MLS team	Current team	Notes
October 21, 2011					Signed for 2012 season^[9]
December 13, 2012					Signed as Home Grown Player^[10]
January 10, 2013				Retired	Signed as Home Grown Player^[11]
January 11, 2013					Signed as Home Grown Player^[12]
January 18, 2013					Signed as Home Grown Player^[13]
January 21, 2013					Signed as Home Grown Player^[14]
February 8, 2017

Notes and References

1. Web site: Travis Clark . Akron sets new record for SuperDraft success . Mlssoccer.com . 2011-01-13 . 2012-09-14.
2. Web site: Gaschk . Matt . Gaschk on the SuperDraft . Soundersfc.com . 2012-09-14.
3. Web site: Portland Timbers . Timbers acquire midfielder Ben Zemanski from Chivas USA in exchange for allocation money, right of first refusal to Jonathan Bornstein . Portlandtimbers.com . 2013-02-13 . 2013-02-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130215230313/http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2013/02/timbers-acquire-midfielder-ben-zemanski-chivas-usa-exchange-allocation-money-right-firs . 2013-02-15 .
4. Web site: Portland Timbers . Timbers Select Nagbe, Taylor in 2011 MLS SuperDraft . Portlandtimbers.com . 2011-01-12 . 2012-09-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110117042323/http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2011/01/timbers-select-nagbe-taylor-2011-mls-superdraft# . 2011-01-17 . dead .
5. http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/01/dc-united-selects-kitchen-and-korb-in-2011-mls-superdraft D.C. United selects Kitchen and Korb in 2011 MLS SuperDraft
6. Web site: Jonathan Yardley . Sarkodie part of Akron's big day . Houstondynamo.com . 2011-01-13 . 2012-09-14.
7. Web site: Timbers sign midfielder Michael Nanchoff . Portlandtimbers.com . 2013-02-21 . 2013-03-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130328013203/http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2013/02/timbers-sign-midfielder-michael-nanchoff . 2013-03-28 .
8. Web site: Whitecaps FC select Darren Mattocks in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft . Whitecapsfc.com . 2012-01-12 . 2012-09-14.
9. Web site: Impact Media . Impact signs goalkeeper Evan Bush for 2012 MLS roster . Impactmontreal.com . 2011-10-20 . 2012-09-14.
10. Web site: Impact Media . Crew Signs Wil Trapp to Homegrown Contract . TheCrew.com . 2012-12-13 . 2012-12-14.
11. Web site: Crew Communications . Crew signs Defender Chad Barson to Homegrown contract . Thecrew.com . 2012-01-10 . 2012-02-18.
12. Web site: Sounders FC Public Relations . Sounders FC Signs First Homegrown Player . SoundersFC.com . 2013-01-11 . 2013-02-18.
13. Web site: Denver Post . Rapids sign homegrown player Dillon Serna . denverpost.com . 2013-01-18 . 2013-01-22.
14. Web site: Revs sign Scott Caldwell as Homegrown player. RevolutionSoccer.net. 2013-03-08. New England Revolution. 2013-12-21.