With every year that goes by, the Josh Suggs Tour of California adds another chapter.

The Las Cruces, N.M., native played his college soccer at the northern-most university in the state. He began his professional career in Los Angeles.

Now, Suggs, the 22-year-old former Humboldt State standout, has moved up another the rung in the American soccer ranks, plying his trade a few hours closer to where he used to sport the Green and Gold.

With one exuberant Facebook post just over a week ago, Suggs let friends and family know where he’s playing next: Major League Soccer in San Jose with the Earthquakes.

”Honestly, it’s unreal. It’s amazing,” Suggs said in a phone interview on Tuesday night. “Going from Humboldt to Los Angeles, where it’s a USL, we didn’t have much there, but it was better. Everything is professional here. It’s crazy. I show up and there’s two brand new pairs of cleats sitting in my locker waiting for me.”

Suggs, who was a three-time all-California Collegiate Athletic Association selection during his four years at Humboldt State (2007-2010), was one of five non-contract players with the Quakes during their preseason camp.

It was Suggs’ second stint with San Jose, who also had him in for a week-long trial last September after his lone season with the United Soccer League’s Los Angeles Blues — just nine games due to a concussion — concluded.

And of that select group with the Earthquakes, Suggs was the lone player to be offered a contract by San Jose’s MLS franchise.

”I hope they see something in me. I’m hoping that they see potential in me,” Suggs said.

Now it’s all about refining his skills and making his mark in San Jose.

Primarily a winger or forward at Humboldt State — where he scored 22 goals and added seven assists in 73 games as a Jack — Suggs is playing as a left fullback for Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop.

But playing as a defender is not completely new to Suggs, seeing as that’s where he played when he was originally recruited to HSU and then played with the Blues.

”Now playing left back is more comfortable than any other position. Especially when you go from playing a position in college and then the next time you’re playing in the MLS, it’s a lot different. But playing left back in the pro level, I’ve been studying and learned the position in and out.”

Suggs didn’t play in San Jose’s 1-0 season-opening win over the New England Revolution and is still fighting his way to get a spot on the Quakes’ bench for their next game, against the Houston Dynamo, this weekend.

But that hasn’t stopped the rest of the Earthquakes roster from welcoming their young rookie with open arms.

”It’s so cool. When I came in on trial, the first guy I see is Wondo (Chris Wondolowski). I’m like a giddy little school girl,” Suggs said. “Then I walk in the locker room and I see Bobby Convey. He played for D.C. United. All these guys that I watched when I was a kid — I’ve been meeting all of them.

”The thing that’s crazy to me, it took me awhile to get in with the team (in Los Angeles). But when I came here, the biggest difference is that everybody is so welcoming and humbled.”

One of those players, Wondolowski, is a Chico State alum. The Quakes’ 2011 team MVP, Wondolowski scored 16 goals last season and has earned seven caps with the United States Men’s National Team.

”The thing is, nobody plays at this level from Division II,” Suggs said. “So for us to come out of D-II and from the same conference, says a lot.”