Well folks, my weekend has been way too busy to sit down and write. Sorry about that. I am reading a bunch of blog posts from folks in Fort Lauderdale so check the 'Read Like Bonji' link to the right to see what is coming out from the front lines.
Most of the news of the first day was uninspiring.

College Cup is over, visions of sugar plums are done dancing in everyone's heads, what else is there to do but a mock draft? I know, I know...how can one handle the pressure, the madness? I'll try my friends, for you. This will be the first round only, I'm not going into multi-rounds. However, I think our new contributor has something bigger up his sleeve.

Well folks, here we go, the Generation Adidas class is set. This will change my previous draft a lot as many of these guys will go first round, pushing some good senior talent into the second round.
MF - Eric Avila, 20, UC Santa Barbara
Honors: 2004 ESP All*Star, 2005 StudentSportsSoccer.

Folks, I've pointed you to 3rd Degree many times. Those loyal to the premier pre-season signing site already know this. Those slow on the draw won't have read yet that Buzz says both Ciaran O'Brien and Eric Avila have decided to sign before their senior years with MLS and the Generation Adidas program.

MLS has a couple of stories on the events of the combine's first day. One and Two. Not much else is coming out yet. I imagine all of the people there watching are enjoying their time, socializing before writing. As the day goes on, we'll keep you posted.

Here it is folks. My co-contributor Emile and I have been poring over the combine write-ups all weekend. Yesterday we sat on GoogleChat for hours to hash out this mock draft. So this isn't just my nuttery...this is the product of two crazy draft nerds (What? Nerd?). Bonji mostly takes the Evens while Emile mostly takes the Odds.

Get ready for the mad dash to the MLS 2008 SuperDraft. The invited college players descend on Fort Lauderdale, FL tomorrow (1/11/08) to kick off their bid to join the American professional ranks. Friday night there is a welcome dinner at their hotel (the Sheraton Yankee Trader Hotel for those interested) then at 10 am Saturday games kick off.

It sounds like the combine needs to change. Allen Hopkins recently reported on espn.com that MLS coaches were unanimous that the level of play is slipping and the event doesn't provide coaches with what they want to see.

Combine needs boost
A survey of all the MLS coaches regarding the scouting combine produced the same overall analysis: The level of play at the combine has declined the past three years and has to improve.

Maximiliano Damiano, Jonathan Sabbatini, & Lucas Fernandez attended the 2008 MLS Combine. According to reports, they will not be in the MLS SuperDraft but will be made available in some other form. We will keep you posted.
3rd Degree has posted some combine commentary on the players. For excellent coverage on the 2008 MLS Combine visit the site here: 3rd Degree
RE: Jonathan Sabbatini - "He's a capable linking or attacking mid.

Teammates
Technical Sessions: #4

Stanford defender Scott Bolkan spoke with SoccerCityFC prior to the 2008 MLS Combine. Bolkan looked forward to sharing the experience with goalkeeper Andrew Kartunen. While he was honored by the invite, he was also happy to see his teammate's inclusion.

Read the entire article here: MLS Combine 2008 Day Three
Also, 3rd Degree will be hosting a MLS Draft Chat at the site. Be sure to check it out if you cannot make it down to Baltimore this Friday.
Here are some more quotes from 3rd Degree about players who have interviewed with SoccerCityFC.

SoccerCityFC caught up with defender David Worthen before he left for the 2008 MLS Combine. While at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, his collegiate career was marked with both team and individual success. Worthen was selected to all-conference honors in four consecutive years. The UNCG Spartans won three regular season titles and two SoCon tournament titles over that span.

Ninety MinutesTechnical Sessions: #5
West Virginia's Daniel Stratford arrived at this weekend's MLS Combine with a slight advantage. Many of the combine players were unable to participate in ninety minute games during the holiday season. Stratford, however, played several full games back home in England.

Chemistry ClassTechnical Sessions #3
Old Dominion University's David Horst recently returned home to Pine Grove, Pennsylvania after spending the last year finalizing his claim as one of college soccer's top defenders. He was able to relax and visit with family and friends before refocusing on his upcoming task: the 2008 MLS Combine.

Stanford goalkeeper Andrew Kartunen has battled through recent adversity. In 2006, he missed his entire senior year due to a shoulder injury. After being granted a medical red shirt, he returned in 2007 but was out after only 8 games due to a concussion. Prior to these setbacks, he competed at the various national youth levels and gained recognition for his collegiate work.

Here is a listing of the finalized 2008 MLS Combine Roster. Players who are linked have been kind enough to speak with SoccerCityFC.
adidas adiPure

• Brian Edwards via Wake Forest University
• Matt Allen via Creighton University
• Sean Franklin via California State University of Northridge
• Matt Hatzke via Santa Clara University
• Shea Salinas via Furman University
• Jonathan Leathers via Furman University
• Ely Allen via University of Washington
• Eric Brunner via Ohio State University
• George Josten via Gonzaga
• Peter Lowry via Santa Clara University
• Pat Phelan via Wake Forest University
• Ricardo Pierre-Louis via Lee University
• Michael Videira via Duke University
• Geoff Cameron via University of Rhode Island
• Maximiliano Damiano via Argentina
• Yomby William via Old Dominion University

adidas adiTunit

• Andrew Kartunen via Stanford University
• Stephen King via University of Maryland
• Jonathan Sabbatini via Argentina
• Jeremy Barlow via University of Virginia
• Matthew Britner via Brown University
• Hugh Cronin via North Carolina State University
• Pavle Dundjer via University of Illinois – Chicago
• Andre Sherard via University of North Carolina
• Cesar Zambrano via University of Illinois – Chicago
• El-Hadj Cisse via North Carolina State University
• Julius James via University of Connecticut
• Sherron Manswell via Boston College
• Brandon Owens via University of California – Los Angeles
• Keith Savage via University of West Florida

adidas Predator PowerServe

• Dominic Cervi via University of Tulsa
• Casey Latchem via Ohio State University
• Eric Burkholder via University of Tulsa
• Mike Zaher via University of California – Los Angeles
• Adrian Chevannes via Southern Methodist University
• Lucas Fernandez via Argentina
• Kevin Forrest via University of Washington
• Joe Germanese via Duke University
• Brian Grazier via Saint Louis University
• Pat Healey via Towson University
• Kai Kasiguran via Messiah College
• Corey Sipos via University of Akron
• Dan Stratford via West Virginia University
• Rauwshan McKenzie via Michigan State University
• Andrew Jacobson via University of California – Berkeley
• David Horst via Old Dominion University

adidas Trofeo

• AJ Kulp via Old Dominion University
• David Roth via Northwestern University
• Xavier Balc via Ohio State University
• Ryan Cordeiro via University of Connecticut
• Ryan Miller via University of Notre Dame
• Luke Sassano via University of California – Berkeley
• Ben Shuleva via Southern Methodist University
• Lukasz Tumicz via University of Rhode Island
• Julian Valentin via Wake Forest University
• David Worthen via North Carolina – Greensboro
• Scott Bolkan via Stanford University
• Andy Iro via University of California – Santa Barbara
• Scott Campbell via University of North Carolina

***Please Note that four players (Franklin, Phelan, Valentin, and King) are currently with the U.

Read the entire article here: MLS Combine 2008 Day One
Quotes regarding several of the combine players who have interviewed with SoccerCityFC include:
"Big, good long passer, and great in air. All the raw tools, needs some coaching to refine his tactical positioning. Clearly the best green defender and leader back there.