North Texas Soccer Club, the USL-1 affiliate of FC Dallas, has announced the signing of two former Academy defenders, Hector Montalvo and Cesar Murillo, to one-year contracts with options for the 2020 season. Montalvo and Murillo are the 34th and 35th Academy products signed to professional contracts by the FC Dallas organization.

FC Dallas U17/18 players Ben Hale, Hector Montalvo, Reggie Cannon, and Devin Vega [left to right] were named to the 2016 All-Central Conference Team. (USDA / USDA)

The 21-year-old Montalvo was part of the U-18 Academy team that won the U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship in 2016 and was named to the 2016 Central Conference Team. After leaving the FCD Academy, Montalvo played one season at Grand Canyon University before moving to Mexico to join Tigres UNAL U-20 team. Montalvo is also a former US U19.

Montalvo, a center back, has been on trial with North Texas SC for most of the spring and joins a backline loaded with Academy products.

The 23-year-old Murillo is another graduate of the FC Dallas Academy. He played four years at the College of Charleston where he was named captain every season, playing 66 games and being selected for the All-CAA Second Team in 2015. He graduated in 2018 with a degree in accounting.

Murillo is a flexible defender able to play both center-back and out wide. That flexibility will come in hand for North Texas head coach Eric Quill who will have to juggle lineups and rosters depending on the number of MLS players coming down on loan or amateur Academy players getting a taste of a higher level.

A College of Charleston starting XI, Cesar Murillo is wearing the #2 in the front row. (College of Charleston)

Name:

Hector Montalvo

Pronunciation

: Mohn-

-

Position

: Defender

Height

: 6'2"

Weight

: 185 lbs.

Date of Birth

: January 19, 1998

Age:

21

Hometown

: El Paso, TX

Country

: USA

Last Club

: Tigres

How Acquired

: Signed on March 28, 2019.

Name: Cesar Murillo

: Seh-zar Mur-ee-oh

: Defender

: 6'0"

: 165 lbs.

: February 16, 1996

23

: El Paso, TX

: USA

: College of Charleston

3rd Degree is an independent, North Texas soccer blog with a focus on FC Dallas. (3rd Degree / Buzz Carrick)

: Signed on March 28, 2019.