The Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, the oldest and most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, kicks off this Sunday, April 14th, with the traditional FC Dallas Cotton Bowl tripleheader.

Including the FC Dallas Academy U19 side in the Super Group and the U17 side in the Generation adidas Cup going on at the same time, FC Dallas has 22 total teams taking part in the big international tournaments next week. That's two more teams than last year.

MLS' Generation adidas Cup starts this Saturday. The Dallas Cup helps MLS with some logistics on the GA Cup. In a sense, you can consider the GA Cup as a U17 Super Group for the Dallas Cup if you want. Even though technically it's a separate tournament.

In addition to the U19s and U17s, the Academy U14s are in the Super 14s which is back for a second go around. Plus the FCD Academy has sides in the U15 & U13 brackets as well as two in the U12 bracket. The other FCD sides in the tournament are from FC Dallas Youth, FC Dallas El Paso, and FC Dallas Mexico.

Side note: there are no FC Dallas Academy U18 or U16 teams, the U18 age players are combined with the U19s and the U16s with the U17s in the Development Academy.

Our youth focus at 3rd Degree is, for the most part, on the path to the pro side. So we will be focusing on the Academy sides for this "who to watch" list. I'll start with the oldest teams, but remember the further down the list we go the more of a long shot these players become. These players are mostly many years from the pro level and much can and will change.

I'll include every player's listed Academy number.

One more quick note about DA academies, they use birth year. Which gets a little confusing at the U19 level when some kids graduate high school after one season with the 19s and others two. A few kids might take a year off before college to play that second season. Still others have played their freshman season, signed a contract, and still been U19 eligible like Brandon Servania was.

FC Dallas Academy U19s (2000 & 2001)

There are three MLS signed Homegrowns who are eligible to play in the Dallas Cup: #29 Bryan Reynolds, #23 Thomas Roberts, and #6 Edwin Cerrillo. All three have played a lot of games for the U19s this season and which ones will be released to the 19s is based on the needs of FC Dallas and North Texas SC more than the need of the 19s.

Reynolds may play for North Texas SC on Saturday evening but after that, he's 99% sure to play in DC40 for the rest of the tournament as NTXSC has a weekend off.

Roberts is in the FCD mix of late due to injuries. With FCD having games each weekend he will join the U19s if enough FCD players recover from injuries - and suspensions - so that Roberts can be spared. I really want to see him play in the Dallas Cup again.

Cerrillo is the most likely to stay with FCD as he's started a few games now and is almost certainly needed on the bench if nothing else. He could make some spot starts for the U19s here and there this week perhaps.

One other homegrown that might also be available for the U19s, or even the U17s if FCD chooses to stack the U17s as I suggested, is #7 Dante Sealy. The son of former FC Dallas striker Scott Sealy, Dante is an MLS Homegrown but is on loan to North Texas SC for the entire season. Like Reynolds, after the NTXSC game Saturday he will almost certainly join the U19 team. Sealy has been in US U16 and U17 camps. As a 2003, he's just 15 years old and playing two years up with the 19s and even more, obviously, with FCD and NTX.

#11 Beni Redzic - A 2002, he's playing up a year with the U19s and is in his first year at that level. He's been in some US U17 camps. He trains with NTX a lot and has pro potential. Plays as a winger for the most part but can play as a 10. 8 goals in 19 games for the U19s this year. He's also eligible to play with the 17s.

#10 Tanner Tessmann - An tall attacking mid, linking mid, or winger for the Academy. Trains with NTX a fair bit these days and plays some as a 9 for them on top of all the midfield positions. 4 goals in 20 Academy games. Can hit a heck of a shot from range. A player with a pro grade for me.

#19 Gibran Rayo - A dynamic winger or attacking mid, played up with the 19s last year so could have this year and next with them by age. Also trains with NTX. 5 goals in 19 Academy games.

Johan Gomez awaits kickoff with Thomas Roberts of FC Dallas in the 2019 Winter Showcase. (Collodi Photography)

#9 Johan Gomez - The U19s high-striker. All he does is score goals, 21 of them in 20 games. Committed to the University of Portland but trains some with NTX. May yet be a NTX signing... or maybe not.

#12 Kevin Bonilla - A right back with a pro-grade that can play left back too. In his first year with the 19s. He was the first Academy contract (a.k.a. amateur) starter for NTX in their opening game.

Update 4/9 at noon: Bonilla was injured in the NTXSC opener. According to the team, he is improving and may be back in training this week. So I expect him to play at least some in the DC40.

#3 Julian Hinojosa - A left back with lots of US Youth calls ups at multiple levels. I'm just not quite convinced of his pro potential. Also a '01 in his first U19 season. Committed to UNC.

#1 Michael Collodi - U19s usual starting goalkeeper. He's headed to the Columbia University. It'll be worth tracking his development I think.

#2 Imanol Alnageur - One of the few 2000s, he's been a solid outside back and is heading to Northern Illinois University. But suddenly of late he's played some linking mid (post-NTX formation) and has been surprising. A tremendous leap in potential has been on display. I'm going to watch him with real interest going forward.

I know, that was a lot of U19s.

FCD Academy U17s (2002 & 2003) - GA Cup

This team is loaded. I wrote about how I thought FCD should stack this team to run at the GA Cup.

#39 Ricardo Pepi - By now, if you are bothering to read this, you will know who Ricardo "The Train" Pepi is. First NTXSC signing. First NTX hat-trick in his first pro start. US U17 and a pure 9-type high striker. He scored a staggering 19 goals in just 8 games with the U17s before he joined NTX. A 2003, which means he could play one more U17 season after this... if he wasn't a pro already that is.

#27 David Rodriguez - Signed by North Texas SC after 10 goals in 13 DA games. Like I do Pepi, I want him to return to the 17s for the GA Cup. Left-footed playmaker and the creative, decisive difference maker for the 17s. A 2002.

Seth Wilson, Nico Carrera, David Rodriguez, and Diego Letayf with the FC Dallas U17s during a 2019 tournament in Mexico. (Standfast / 3rd Degree)

#6 Diego Letayf - The 17s smooth, game controlling holding mid. He's been in three straight Mexico U17 camps and looks to have made their U17 World Cup squad. 2002.

#37 Nico Carrera - A pro-caliber center back prospect who's working on his citizenship and should be in some US teams after he gets it. 6'2" at 16. A 2002. Plays a very aggressive style, super mobile and rangy.

#62 Cesar Carcia - The more linking style mid in the 4-3-3. He was part of the January camp with the US U17s. 2002.

#40 Seth Wilson - 6'3" 17-year-old keeper (2002). I think he's the next potential professional keeper still in the FCD Academy system. Although that's several years down the line as keepers mature later.

#42 Jonathan Gomez - Left back and a 2003. He's the younger brother of U19 striker Johan Gomez. Jonathan's been training with North Texas SC already and he's also a frequent US U17 call up.

And believe me, there are quite a few more players in this side worth talking about.

As good as this team is, FCD took a blow at the U16/17 level this year with the loss of Edwin Villarreal to Pachuca. Originally from El Paso, I don't know why he left FCD other than, I assume, just being recruited away. He was a quite frequent US U16 call up last year and a really special player.

FCD Academy U15s (2004)

The 2018-19 FC Dallas U15 Academy team. (FCD / FC Dallas)

#13 Antonio Carrera - After Wilson, the next stud Academy Goalkeeper, if he keeps growing. Originally from Pachuca, Carrera has been with FCD since the U12s. He's a recent US U15 call up. He's started 18 DA games for the U15s this season. The little brother of U17 Nico Carrera.

Update 4/9: Antonio is up to 6'1" now. The kid's growing like a weed.

#5 George Medill - A highly regarded center back, he earned some US U15 calls up as a 13 year old last year. 4 goals in 17 games, all starts, this season.

#88 Cesar Elizalde - "Danny," a midfielder, is originally from El Paso and moved to Dallas in 2017. He's also been into US U15 camp.

#7 Berin Droemer - A 9-type striker. He had 17 goals in 25 games last year in the 14s but he was bigger and faster than everyone. I wondered if he would keep up that rate as he moved up. So far so good with 11 goals in 16 games this year at the U15 level.

#9 Michael Morales - A midfielder with 6 goals in 18 games with 12 starts. No relation to Javier Morales.

#8 Santiago Ferreira - The young son of David Ferreira and Jesus' brother. 11 starts in 19 games.

#20 Ty Reynolds - The younger brother of FCD's Bryan Reynolds. 9 starts in 16 games.

#10 Victor Fimbres - A midfielder Dan Crooke and I both really liked last year in the Dallas Cup but for some reason has only started 6 of his 15 appearances this year.

FCD Academy U14s (2005)

The 2018-19 FC Dallas U14 Academy team formally coached by Peter Luccin. (FC Dallas / FCD)

The U14s feature a really dynamic set of strike partners that I can't wait to see in the Super 14s. They both lit up the U13s last year winning the Dallas Cup. This was Peter Luccin's team before he joined the FCD staff.

#33 Nighte Pickering - 16 goals in 21 games this year, 17 goals in 29 games last year.

#41 Tarik Scott - 19 goals in 21 games this year, 18 goals in 29 games last year.

#57 Alejandro Estrada - From El Paso, new to the Academy last year. 8 goals in 19 games out of midfield.

#51 Anthony Ramirez - A candidate for the all-hair team. A midfielder with 3 goals in 21 games.

10 players from this side took part in the recent US U-14 talent identification camp at Toyota Soccer Center: goalkeepers Victor Gomez and Aaron Salinas; defenders Adrian Anguiano and Pranav DeBuff; midfielders Jared Aguilar, Diego Hernandez, Jordan Jones, Anthony Ramirez, and Nolan Norris; and striker Nighte Pickering.

The 2018 U13 Dallas Cup Champion FC Dallas U13 Academy side. (DC39 / Dallas Cup)

FC Dallas Academy U13s (2006)

FC Dallas U13 Academy 2018-19. Formerly coached by Javier Morales. (FCD / FC Dallas)

One big loss at this level from last year is Keyrol Figueroa, Maynor Figueroa's son. After scoring 28 goals in 28 games, Figueroa joined Liverpool's academy.

So we're left trying to ID some new talent with the 13s. At this level, we're just looking for things that catch our attention. Javier Morales was coaching this team before his departure to Inter Miami.

#34 Nayrobi Vargas Valerio - 23 goals in 21 games this year, according to his bio he's Honduran, born in San Pedro Sula. He was MVP of Copa adidas Atlanta 2016.

#9 Alejandro Urzua - 10 goals in 21 games out of midfield.

#33 Malachi Molina - A forward with 10 goals in 22 games. His bio says he's a 2-time National 3v3 Champion, which certainly sounds promising.

#5 Gabriel Brandon - Defender. MVP of the Global Football Pro Tournament in England.

The 13s have a number of players poking in goals: #8 Matthew Corcoran - 5 goals, #32 Jake Minsky - 7 goals, #10 Gustavo Quiroz - 7 goals, #24 Vincent Stephens - 4 goals.

FCD Academy U12s (2007 and 2008)

One of FC Dallas' two U12 Academy teams. (FCD / FC Dallas)

FC Dallas decided to make two Academy teams at the U12 level to maximize playing time. I haven't heard much about these teams and there are no stats on the DA page to grab some names from. But there are one or two kids worth a mention.

#19 Jake Rhine - The son of FC Dallas legend Bobby Rhine. In 2017 his FC Dallas 07 Boys Central Blue team won the Bobby Rhine Invitational tournament.

#27 Santiago Morales - The son of Javier. He's still listed on the FCD Academy roster on the DA site so he may still be around the club.

#26 Marlon Luccin - FC Dallas assistant coach Peter Luccin's son.