College: Clemson finds midfield reinforcement

Although it was a sparse Region III recruiting year, Clemson managed to plug holes in midfield.

In a year light on defenders and attackers and heavy on midfielders, versatility may be the top trait for players coming out of Region III.

Although there may not be any players like Tony Soto or Josh Wolff — two players who stepped right into starring roles last season with South Carolina —
there are some players who can come in and contribute as role players.

On the top of the list is U.S. U-20 national team forward Eric Quill, who will likely see time in central midfield at Clemson under Trevor Adair, who has several holes to fill.

Wolde Harris and Miles Joseph both completed their eligibility, while Imad Baba — like Joseph training with the U.S. Olympic team — decided to forego his final year to enter the MLS draft.

The left-footed Quill can play anywhere in midfield or up front, where he had some success with the U-20s. Besides Quill, Clemson also picked up another Region III lefty in Nathan Rawlings.

Rawlings will be expected to fill in at left midfield, where his pace will be useful on overlaps. Quill, meanwhile, will have the unenviable task of filling Baba’s shoes in the middle. Adair has confidence his new recruit can meet the challenge.

“[Quill] was a highly recruited basketball player and you can see that in his soccer game,” Adair said. “He’s tactically very aware.”

South Carolina, with little scholarship money to spare after last season’s bumper crop, still welcomes defender Scott Campagna into the fold. Campagna has the makings of becoming a solid collegiate defender. He has good size and mobility and reads the game well.

North Carolina picked up the other top defender in Eddie Robinson, out of Greensboro, N.C. Robinson will probably start out as an outside back or manmarker, but with seasoning could take on more responsibility in the Tar Heels’ backfield. He has good size to go with quickness.

Both Duke and North Carolina picked up help on the forward line in Troy Garner and Jorge Redmond, respectively.

Garner, out of Stone Mountain, Ga., was a starter on the U.S. U-17 team that reached the quarterfinals of the U-17 World Cup in 1993.

He’s a strong, athletic player who works well with his back to the goal.

Redmond, on the other hand, is the type player who likes to get the ball facing defenders so he can use his moves and pace to beat them.

He should complement Temoc Suarez on the Tar Heel frontline.

Daniel Villareal, out of Austin, Texas, may be the sleeper pick of the lot. Villareal, a nifty playmaker who played his club ball under Wolfgang Suhnholz, is headed for N.C. State, where he’ll play under George Tarantini.

Wake Forest snared the pick of the keepers in the region in Sean Conner.

by Soccer America associate editor Poul Swain.

Soccer America’s Men’s Super XI Recruits (Region III)