Since the MLS preseason is underway and the USL preseason is right around the corner, it seems like a good time to talk about the FC Dallas Academy and give you a list of players I would like to see signed by FC Dallas and/or North Texas SC. To take a step further than a list of names, I'll add my personal scouting report to each.

As we discuss the current crop of young talent, let's remember that four players currently of Academy age have already been signed by FC Dallas. MLS Homegrown Jesus Ferreira, as a 2000, is still U19 eligible for the rest of this current Developmental Academy season (I doubt we'll see him there). Homegrowns Thomas Roberts and Bryan Reynolds are 2001s and technically have a season and a half left of eligibility with the 19s. You might see them in the Dallas Cup 2019 potentially.

Last, but not least, North Texas signing Ricardo Pepi is a 2003 and has a season and a half with the U17s and two seasons with the 19s... if so desired. Obviously, he'll spend most of his time this year with North Texas SC but could play with the 17s for certain tournaments, like the Generation Adidas cup in April.

Side note: One weird thing about the DA's system of eligibility by birth year... it doesn't always match when the player will graduate high school and go to college. So when I talk about first and second years in the 19s, I only mean that based on their birth year. The current U19s are 2000s and 2001s, the current U17s are 2002s and 2003s. A specific example: Brandon Servania was signed by FCD after his freshman season at Wake Forest and was still eligible for the FCD 19s.

Make sense? I know, clear as mud.

Before we begin, here's the one giant caveat and question at play... Is an FC Dallas USL contract better than NCAA soccer? That will depend entirely on the player. Each must make his own decision.

I think USL means more training, more games, possibly better coaching, and a professional environment all under the watchful eye of the MLS coaches and frequently with MLS training. But a college scholarship can mean a lot. So while I may want a player to sign, they may not want to.

I'm told by FCD that Academy kids can play in USL-1 without giving up NCAA soccer as long as they don't sign a contract, so some of these players may go that route.

Let's move on to the list. Starting with the two players I want to see signed to Homegrown contracts right now.

Homegrown Now

Edwin Cerrillo of FCD Academy U19s. (5-28-18) (3rd Degree / Arman Kafai)

Edwin Cerrillo - Cerrillo is a pure 6, a midfield destroyer and holder. A 2000, he's in his last season with the 19s and I'm hearing his deal is all but done. A great tackler with the rare skill to hold onto the ball after he wins it. Above average with the ball at his feet and a pretty good passer. He plays sideline to sideline and controls the game. He's the captain, leader, and tone-setter for the 19s. He's occasionally asked to play as an 8 or even a 10. But I think he will be a pure 6 as he moves up the ranks.

Dante Sealy takes part in senior team training. (10-25-18) (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

Dante Sealy - Sealy is the son of former MLS striker and T&T International Scott Sealy. Incredibly, the young Sealy is a 2003, the same age as Pepi, and is a starter for the FCD U19s. He's been in several US camps often two years under the age limit. He's also T&T eligible. He's just 15 and has 10 goals in 11 games (8 starts) with the 19s this season. Listed at only 5'2" (I think he's taller than that) he doesn't dominate by size but by pace and skill, sometimes going against players a foot taller than him. With his lineage and production (11 goals in 16 games with the 17s when he was 14; 30 goals in 33 games with the U14s in '16-'17) he is exactly the kind of player that should be signed and signed now, before he gets away. Play him a couple seasons with North Texas and he'll be MLS ready by 18. Or Europe ready.

Homegrown Later

Beni Redzic on the ball for FC Dallas against AS Monaco in the 2018 Generation adidas Cup opening match. (3-23-18) (Carter Baum / FC Dallas)

Beni Redzic - Redzic is a 2002, so he's also playing up with the 19s when he could still be a U17. A sometimes starter for the 19s, he's got 4 goals in 11 games but only 5 starts. Redzic is a creative type, usually as a false wing or a 10. He's similar to Paxton Pomykal or Pablo Aranguiz perhaps, just to make a (too much hype!) comparison. Redzic isn't blowing by people with pace, it's all high IQ, great feet, clinical passing, and advanced game reading. When a few of the 19s sign for North Texas, I want Redzic to take over running the U19s with an eye on being a Homegrown signing next offseason. Some occasional NTXSC games this year won't hurt either.

USL Contract

These are the four U19s I would like to see signed directly to North Texas SC. Again, if they are willing. All four are 2001 and are in their first official season in the U19 age bracket.

Gibran Rayo - Rayo is a former Mexico U16 call up. A fast, slashing winger or forward. He can play as a 9 but mostly I see him as a true winger (7 or 11). He's also popped up as a 10 for the 19s but that's not his sweet spot. He's not a prolific goal scorer but does create a ton of chaos and really stretches a defense as he's very hard to mark 1 v 1. 10 goals in 28 games last year when he was playing up with the 19s but just 1 goal this year in 11 games (7 starts). He was a frequent MLS training guest in 2018.

Gibran Rayo on the ball for the FC Dallas U19s, Tanner Tessmann runs to his right at the 2018 Developmental Academy Winter Showcase. (Collodi PHotography)

Tanner Tessmann - A versatile midfielder who can play as a 6, 8, 10, or wing... but I think he's an 8 at the next level. Really skilled on the ball for a kid his size (6'2"). He can shoot well from range and scores big goals. I like to compare him to Matt McKeon or Chad Deering for all you old school MLS watchers. He needs to improve his consistency, I've seen him dominate a team as the best player on the field and I've also seen him just drift through the action. Rises to the level of the competition perhaps? Certainly a big game player.

Johan Gomez, 17, an FC Dallas Academy player, poses for a photograph at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018. (Rose Baca/The Dallas Morning News) (Rose Baca / Staff Photographer)

Johan Gomez - Gomez is the U19's pure no. 9. One of two players on my list I found a college commitment for, the University of Portland in his case. He was the hot FCD U17 name last year coming out of the GA Tournament. All he does is score goals. Nothing about his game is truly eye-catching, other than his knack for being in the right place at the right time, making the right run, and converting the goal. Bunches of goals. 11 goals in 12 games this season. 23 in 22 games last year for the 17s.

Kevin Bonilla - The other 19 on my list with a college commitment, he's also bound for the University of Portland. I think he's the best outside back with the FCD 19s in only his first year with them. Has the potential to be the next pro outside right back after Reggie Cannon and Bryan Reynolds, so no rush on getting him to MLS. Solid on the ball, has the pace and range to run the line in the FCD way. Can play in combo and loves to run by people and can penetrate the box.

Other U19s

My list is by no means the end all beat all. FCD may have others in mind. And some of the other 19s could still progress and become pros. Some will go to college and become pros down the line.

Here are a few others I'm watching. If I know their college commitment I will mention it here.

2000s (in their last season): Mouhamed Sow Sow (holding mid, CB - Unkown), Joel Bustamante (creative mid - unknown), Jorge Imanol Almaguer (outside back - Northern Illinois).

2001s (in their 1st season): Luis Hernandez (D mid or defender - unknown), Judson Burns (center back - Clemson), Julian Hinojosa (left back - UNC), Nathan Toledo (center back - Columbia), Michael Collodi (goalkeeper - Columbia).

Judson Burns, Michael Collodi, and Edwin Cerrillo await the National Anthem at the 2018 Developmental Academy Winter Showcase (Collodi Photography)

Any U17s?

Why yes, I'm glad you asked.

Just like Ricardo Pepi, there are a couple players who could be targeted as USL or Homegrowns in the 17s. Unless one of these three players is absolutely positive they have no college interest, I would maybe wait a little bit on signing to North Texas SC contracts. With 4 or 5 of the 19s being pulled out to play USL-1, let's have these three players move up to the 19s as their next stage. Maybe even get some USL tastes with NTXSC too.

I fully expect these three players to be professional signings, probably MLS Homegrowns, over the next couple of years. All three are 2002s and are in their final season as U17s. All three are youth international caliber players.

Nicolas Carrera (right) playing for the FC Dallas U17s against Toronto FC in the Sub Internacional Liga MX in August (2018). (Liga MX / Liga MC)

Nicolas Carrera - If you're looking for the next Chris Richards, he's got the most potential to be it. Nico already has the MLS body, 6'2" 165 lbs at 16 years of age. Immense range and a tenacious defender. Looks like a pretty good passer, although I haven't personally watched him deal with a pressing team. Needs only the defensive wisdom of experience. He's also in the final stages of getting US Citizenship and I hear a US U17 call up awaits when he gets it. Gives me a Matt Miazga vibe when watching him play.

Diego Letayf - The U17s' super smooth holding mid. He isn't the destroyer that Edwin Cerrillo is. Letayf plays fantastic defense by positioning; intercepting everything through the middle. Graceful and fluid, wonderful passer, he completely controls the pace of the game and dominates the middle third of the park. This is my kind of high soccer IQ midfielder. I love his game.

David Rodriguez is congratulated by then FCD Academy Director Luchi Gonzalez. (9-15-18) (Buzz Carrick / 3rd Degree)

David Rodriguez - The U17s left footed creative force, difference maker, playmaker, and game breaker. I've already compared him to Graham Zusi. Not Zusi now, but the Sporting KC MVP Zusi of a few years ago. 10 goals in 12 games playing most often as a #10 this season. I might even consider a Homegrown contract now if that's what it takes to not lose this kid. I've personally seen him play as a winger and a striker too when the 17s were missing some people.

Even more so that the 19s, this list of U17s is nowhere near complete. There are multiple players I haven't mentioned that have had youth international call-ups. This is just the top 3 after Ricardo Pepi.

I've got my eye on GK Seth Wilson, F Justin Che, CB Jonathan Gomez, and M Cesar Garcia... just to name a few. But they've got a few years of development before we start talking about them as pros. Lots of things can, and will, change.