FC Dallas announced today that the club has signed two former Academy players, Ronaldo Damus and Brecc Evans, to their USL side, North Texas Soccer Club. Damus signed a one-year contract with an option for the 2020 season. Evans signed a two-year contract with an option for the 2021 season.

Damus, 19, joined the FC Dallas U19 Academy side for the second half of 2017-18 season, scoring 12 goals in 13 games. The striker has made eight appearances for Haiti's U-20 National Team and started a World Cup Qualifier vs. Costa Rica for the senior national team in 2016.

Evans, 19, played in 93 matches over four seasons in the FCD Academy, winning a U-16 National Championship in 2016 and the Dallas Cup Super Group title in 2017. Evans was named Big West All-Freshman Team after his first season at California Polytechnic State University.

Our Take

Ronaldo Damus (right) celebrates a goal in the 2018 Dallas Cup against Red Bull Brasil along with Brayan Padilla (center) and Thomas Roberts (left). (Billy Johnston / Dallas Cup)

I really like the Ronaldo "Nostra" Damus signing. He's exactly the kind of raw project with massive upside the NTXSC team was made for. Huge athletic ability, skills, and pace, he just needs lots of good tactical coaching and a couple years PT and he might be an MLS steal even if he can't be a Homegrown down the road (not enough time with the Academy).

The Brecc Evans signing answers an important question. Would FCD rather a not-ready-for-Homegrown player sign with them than stay in college? Would FCD prefer to develop the player themselves?

Depending on the player & the school... Apparently yes. This obviously would be decided on a case by case basis and in the Evans case, he was ready to move on from college so FCD snapped him up.

There may be many players who FCD (and the player) prefer to stay in school. Brayan Padilla at Maryland for example.

Brecc Evans (left) plays in the Dallas Cup for FC Dallas against Red Bull Brasil. (Collodi Photography / Dallas Cup)

As for Evans himself, he's not quite ready for a Homegrown deal. A tactical player, solid defender. Evans is the other half (along with Chris Richards) of arguably the best center back combo to come through the FCD Academy; but Evans lacks Richards' range, pace, & athleticism. He's similar to Jordan Cano in many ways, except younger, obviously, and less experienced or polished.

Side note: FCD Academy grads Brandon Terwege (@brandonterwege) and Hector Montalvo (@hectormontalvo) both objected to the "best combo" assertion on twitter. Which I love, by the way. Terwege has recently transferred to SMU after two standout seasons at UCLA and Montalvo currently plays for Tigres U20s.

By signing with North Texas SC, Evans can be a pro for a couple years, progress his game under the eye of the FCD staff, and still sign as a Homegrown down the line if he's deemed ready. Just like a player at the end of his college career (see the aforementioned Jordan Cano).

Unlike Ricardo Pepi, who came straight to NTXSC from the Academy, both Damus and Evans had graduated and done other things. Evans and Damus are a "coming home" kind of signing, a former Academy player coming back to FC Dallas. There are a whole bunch of Academy grads who could fit this bill both in and out of the college ranks.

Certainly, almost all of FCD's SuperDraft picks this year beyond the first round (and maybe even including the first round) could end up with NTXSC. I can't help but wonder if FCD might reach out to a few of last year's picks too like Amer Sasivarvic (Noah Franke and Chris Lema caught on with Pittsburgh Riverhouds and Red Bulls II respectively). Left backs are rare, I'd love to see Sasivarivic with the North Texans.

Bios

Name: Ronaldo Damus

DEH-muhs

Forward

5'10"

170 lbs.

Sept. 12, 1999

19

Hinche, Haiti

Haiti

FC Dallas Academy

Signed on Jan. 3, 2019.

Name: Brecc Evans

: BREH-k

: Defender

: 6'4"

: 180 lbs.

: Sept. 6, 1999

19

: Culver City, CA

: USA

: California Polytechnic State University

3rd Degree

: Signed on Jan. 3, 2019.