Two of FC Dallas’ picks in Thursday’s Super Draft come from schools with histories of producing high quality players. FC Dallas selected defender Walker Zimmerman out of Furman in the first round (7th overall) and midfielder Ryan Hollingshead out of UCLA in the second round (20th overall). In the past FC Dallas has selected one player from each UCLA and Furman in the later rounds, but neither player found much success with the club.
Ty Maurin was drafted in 2004 out of UCLA back when the club was still the Dallas Burn. During his two-year stay the midfielder played a total of 16 minutes. Also selected by the Burn was defender Seth Marks from Furman in 2000, but he did not make the roster. While Maurin and Marks did not find success in the MLS so easily, here are a few players who did:
Furman
Year: 2004
Name: Clint Dempsey
Position: Forward/Midfield
Drafted by: New England Revolution
Current team: Tottenham Hotspur (England – Premiership)
Dempsey was selected eighth overall by New England in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. He immediately made in impact on the team, helping the team to the Eastern Conference Finals. He started in 23 of his 24 appearances, tallying seven goals and earning the title of 2004 MLS Rookie of the Year. In his sophomore year he scored the game-winning goal in the Eastern Conference Final to propel New England to MLS Cup. In 2006 injuries kept him sidelined during New England’s playoff run. In the 2006 MLS Cup he came in as a sub in what was a losing effort as the Revolution lost its second straight final.
However, a few months later, English club Fulham offered MLS $4 million for a Dempsey transfer. At the time this was the largest amount offered for an American player. A month later he became the most expensive US player in the Premier League. Dempsey played for Fulham from 2007-12, appearing in 184 games and racking up 50 goals.
In August 2012, Dempsey became the highest salaried US soccer player of all time by signing a three-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur. This season he has recorded six assists and six goals for the Spurs.
Year: 2003
Name: Ricardo Clark
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Drafted by: New York
Current team: Houston Dynamo
Clark was selected second overall by New York in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. He spent two years in New York, compiling four goals and added two assists. In 2005, he was traded to San Jose where he scored three goals and two assists. He remained with the team during its move to Houston in 2007. That season he was named to the MLS All-Star squad but was dealt a suspension after he deliberately kicked FC Dallas’ Carlos Ruiz. Clark finished the season with two goals and three assists before missing the final two games of the season and all of the playoffs due to the suspension. Clark was also the fifth player in club history with 100 starts in all competitions. In 2009, Clark signed with Eintracht Frankfurt for the rest of the 2009-10 season and eventually landed a three year deal with the club. On August 2012, Clark returned to the Dynamo.
UCLA
Year: 2006
Name: Jonathan Bornstein
Position: Defender
Drafted by: Chivas
Current team: Tigres UANL
In 2006, Bornstein was drafted by Chivas USA and started every match, earning him MLS Rookie of the Year honors. He totaled six goals and four assists his rookie year. He also received three consecutive MLS All-Star nominations. In 2011, Bornstein joined Tigres de la UANL in LigaMX, however he was selected by the Portland Timbers in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft and retain MLS rights to him if he ever returns to the league.
Year: 2000
Name: Carlos Bocanegra
Position: Defender
Drafted by: Chicago
Current team: Racing Santander
With the fourth pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft, the Chicago Fire drafted Bocanegra. In his rookie year the Fire made it to the MLS Championship match and won the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and Bocanegra won Rookie of the Year honors. He quickly established himself as an elite defender in the MLS, winning the MLS Defender of the Year award in 2002 and 2003. In 2004 he made the move to Fulham where he was fondly called the Jackal by fans. In the 2006-07 season he was second on the team in scoring with five goals. Fulham parted ways with the Jackal in 2008. Bocanegra appeared in 116 games and scored 8 goals for Fulham.
In 2011 he signed a three-year deal with Scottish Premier League Rangers. With the Rangers the Jackal became Captain America, as he quickly became a fan favorite. As a result of the Rangers being regulated in 2012, Bocanegra joined the Racing Santander last August as part of a season-long loan.