ANOTHER BIG DAY AT THE DRAFT
Adam Bedell (Detroit City FC), Joey Dillon (Detroit City FC), Daniel Jackson (D.C. United U-23s), Fabio Pereira (Detroit City FC), and Michael Nwiloh (Georgia Revolution) were among the NPSL alumni selected in the third and fourth rounds of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft today.
Bedell was selected 45th overall by the Columbus Crew, while Dillon (53rd) and Jackson (70th) were picked by Real Salt Lake. Pereira was the final pick of the draft by the Seattle Sounders with Nwiloh going 18 picks prior to Chivas USA.
At 6-foot-6, Bedell, scored 23 goals and recorded 22 assists in his four-year college career at University of Detroit Mercy. In his freshmen season, he played in all 19 matches – including 17 starts – and led the team in assists with eight, tying a school single-season assist record at 10th all-time. In his sophomore season in 2011, he added three goals and four assists before a breakout season as a junior. In 2012, Bedell was named Horizon League Player of the Year, Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-League with his League-leading 11 goals. His five assists that season were also tied for the League-lead. In his senior season, he was selected to his second consecutive Horizon League First Team and First Team All-Horizon League. Bedell added eight goals and five assists in his final year on the Titans squad. He was also a key member of the Detroit City FC NPSL squad.
“Adam stood out at our Combine last December and is a good example of the depth of this region’s player pool,”said Columbus Crew Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter.
Bedell was a participant in the Crew’s College Combine, hosted by the Crew’s First Team technical staff on December 14, 2013. The Livonia, Michigan native also played for the Crew Soccer Academy Wolves program in Michigan.
A native of Rochester Hills, Mich., Dillon was a four-year starter at Georgetown, starting 83 of the 86 games he appeared in for the Hoyas. Dillon, who will turn 22 on Saturday, co-captained Georgetown, was named All-Big East first-team and earned Big East Midfielder of the Year honors in 2013.
Jackson had a successful senior season at Division II Coker College, scoring 14 goals and adding two assists in 17 games for the Hartsville, S.C. school. Jackson was a South Atlantic Conference first-team selection, a second-team Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region selection and a third-team NSCAA All-South Atlantic Conference selection.
Pereira, 22, was a four-year starter at the University of Michigan, where he graduated second in program history with 22 career assists and ninth with 13 goals. He started 66 of his 79 appearances at Michigan, highlighted by his junior season when he ranked second in the Big Ten with eight assists, adding a career high six goals. A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Pereira was named team MVP in 2011 and earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors in 2010.
“Fabio has done well throughout his college career,” said Seattle Sounders FC Assistant Coach and Scout Kurt Schmid. “He’s a player we had a chance to work with closely at our Las Vegas combine as well. We like his soccer IQ and technical ability. Fabio can play all over midfield and has a good engine. Both players have the ability to compete for a spot on our roster.”
Nwiloh, a 6-foot-3 center back and Georgia native, made 73 career starts in 75 appearances for GSU after redshirting his freshman year. The defender helped anchor the Panthers’ back line and was named to the 2013 NSCAA All-South Region Second Team.
