The second-annual Midwest Pro Soccer Combine is set for Dec. 18-19 at Legacy Center Sports Complex in Brighton, Mich. And just like the inaugural edition, the focus is once again on quality over quantity.

Rather than accepting every applicant willing to fork up the bread for a chance to get in front of coaches and scouts, the combine aims for a group of 70 highly skilled footballers: 64 field players and six goalkeepers.

“We’ve created this first layer of player vetting,” explained event organizer and AFC Ann Arbor head coach Eric Rudland. “We’re not trying to grow this event to be, you know, bringing in 100 players or 200 players. We’re very strong in the belief that we want to keep the quantity low and the quality high. So we want to reiterate that whenever we can to just say, ‘Hey, we still really want to bring in 70 top players,’ and make it a positive experience for the players and obviously a positive experience for the pro clubs.”

With a surplus of talent in-state and plenty more nearby, Rudland estimated that a significant chunk of 2016 combine attendees were local or regional players.

“When you look at the Midwest as a whole, there’s a lot of quality here in the college game,” Rudland said. “And I think there’s a lot of quality in the NPSL and PDL as well. Last year at the event, we had probably 30 percent of the guys there were from the Midwest. Maybe even higher, actually — closer to 40 percent.”

Of course, that means a solid 60-70 percent of the remaining pro hopefuls were from not just all over the country, but all over the globe. Rudland expects a similar ratio this year, and expressed his excitement about some of the prospects the combine has lined up.

“We’re trying to bring in a couple players from West Africa that will hopefully draw some interest from professional clubs,” Rudland said. “We definitely expect some top PDL guys and some top NPSL guys, and then hopefully a handful of internationals.”

The first crop of combine invitees was announced Friday:

Excited to announce the first 10 players accepted into the 2017 #MPSC https://t.co/XEKeAnYqyB pic.twitter.com/tCKeor8RbT — Midwest Pro Combine (@midwestprosc) November 17, 2017

Indy Eleven forward David Goldsmith attended the inaugural edition of the combine. After going undrafted in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, he earned a shot as a trialist with the Eleven and made the roster.

“The Midwest Pro Combine was a great opportunity to play with other top players from around the country in a professional environment,” Goldsmith said. “It was very useful to push myself against the other players in preparation for hoping to step into a professional team’s preseason in the new year.”

Goldsmith felt he benefitted from attending the combine, and encouraged high-level college footballers with pro ambitions to do likewise.

“I would recommend the combine to anyone who aspires to play at the professional level, and it is a great opportunity to demonstrate your talents in front of a variety of professional scouts from all leagues,” he added. “It only takes a moment to be spotted by a team, so I believe it helps your chances to put yourself in front of as many scouts as you can.”

An impressive list of players inked professional contracts after participating in the 2016 combine: Lalas Abubakar (Columbus Crew SC), Lindo Mfeka (Reno 1868 FC), Lars Eckenrode (Toronto FC II), Francis de Vries (Vancouver Whitecaps II), Goldsmith (Indy Eleven), Ben Fitzpatrick (Pittsburgh Riverhounds), Riley Grant (Seattle Sounders II), Brad Ruhaak (North Carolina FC), Ryan Howe (St. Louis FC), Skyler Milne (Real Monarchs), Nick Kolorac (St. Louis Ambush), Billy Heavner (Minnesota United FC), Micah Bleadso (Louisville City FC), Darrin MacLeaod (Swope Park Rangers), Simon Megally (Nybro IF), Aleski Pahkasalo (FC Legirus Inter), Tyler Fischer (Avondale FC), Sam Zisette (CD Almunecar City), Jack Griffin (Hall Road Rangers FC), James Pendrigh (Stode IF), Brett Nason (San Roque de Lepe), Andre Landell (Rushall Olympic FC), Gerald Ben (Mikkelin Kissat), Jake Freeman (CD San Roque de Lepe), Yannis Becker (TB Uphusen).

Players can apply for the Midwest Pro Soccer Combine at its website for a $25 application fee. And if accepted, there’s an additional $225 registration fee.

Coaches, scouts and intermediaries are encouraged to register at the website along with citing their club or agency affiliation. There is no application or registration fee for non-player attendees.

After receiving input from last year’s combine, the 2017 edition features a new wrinkle intended to more directly prepare prospects for the specific tests MLS personnel will run them through.

“One of the additions that we’re going to make this year, based on pro clubs’ feedback, is we’re actually going to implement the same MLS fitness testing that takes place at the MLS combine,” Rudland said. “So this year, the pro clubs that come in will actually have fitness data and performance data on players along with just being able to see them play in matches.”

With a firm commitment to quality and a willingness to improve each year, the Midwest Pro Soccer Combine appears primed to help the next wave of gifted amateurs sign their first-ever pro deals for the 2018 season.

Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KJboxing.

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