- A new study reveals which U.S. colleges have produced the most talented MLS draft picks over the last three years.
- Since 2023, the University of North Carolina has had 15 players selected across the three rounds of the MLS SuperDraft.
- Lipscomb University holds the highest average SuperDraft pick position per player at 4.5, while James Madison University averages 85.
Oakland (Special to ZennieReport.com) – New data has identified which U.S. institutions have produced the most talented MLS draft picks over the last three years.
Sports betting experts, CBS Sports, analyzed MLS SuperDraft selections from the three rounds across the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons, matching each pick to its college or university to determine which contributed the most talent to the league.
The researchers considered the number of players drafted and their average SuperDraft position to highlight the most successful institutions.
When it comes to the number of players selected in the SuperDraft, the University of North Carolinaranks first with 15 picks between 2023 and 2025. However, the school’s average draft position was fairly low, at 42.5.
Clemson Universityin South Carolina and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., tie for the second-highest number of picks over the three years, each with 10 players selected. Their average draft positions were 42.1 and 48.7, respectively.
Tied for third are Indiana Universityand the University of California,each with nine picks. Indiana’s average draft position was 32.3, while California’s was 40.8.
Fourth place goes to the University of Maryland,with eight players selected since 2023. Their average draft position during this period was 43.3.
Sharing the fifth spot are Syracuse University, the University of Virginia, Wake Forest University, California State University, and Western Michigan University, each with seven players selected.
Among five institutions tied for fifth, Syracusehad the best average draft position at 38.3, while Western Michiganhad the lowest at 61.9.
Institutions in the top five positions for MLS SuperDraft picks since 2023
| Rank | College/University | Number of Players Picked from SuperDraft Rounds 1,2 and 3 (2023-25) | Average SuperDraft Pick Position |
| 1 | University of North Carolina | 15 | 42.5 |
| 2= | Clemson University | 10 | 42.1 |
| 2= | Georgetown University | 10 | 48.7 |
| 3= | Indiana University | 9 | 32.3 |
| 3= | University of California | 9 | 40.8 |
| 4 | University of Maryland | 8 | 43.3 |
| 5= | Syracuse University | 7 | 38.3 |
| 5= | University of Virginia | 7 | 39.7 |
| 5= | Wake Forest University | 7 | 50.3 |
| 5= | California State University | 7 | 53.6 |
| 5= | Western Michigan University | 7 | 61.9 |
Meanwhile, 25 colleges and universities had just one draft pick each over the three years, including the University of Michigan, Yale University,the University of Texas, Princeton University, and Northwestern University.
Of the 25 institutions, the University of San Franciscohad the highest average draft position at five, while James Madison Universityhad the lowest at 85. In the overall ranking, Lipscomb Universityhad the best draft pick position at 4.5.
Institutions with the top 10 average SuperDraft pick positions
| Rank | College/University | State | Average SuperDraft Pick Position |
| 1 | Lipscomb University | Tennessee | 4.5 |
| 2 | University of San Francisco | California | 5.0 |
| 3 | Creighton University | Nebraska | 13.3 |
| 4 | Saint Louis University | Missouri | 16.0 |
| 5= | Missouri State University | Missouri | 19.0 |
| 5= | Salt Lake Community College | Utah | 19.0 |
| 6 | University of Michigan | Michigan | 20.0 |
| 7 | Yale University | Connecticut | 21.0 |
| 8 | University of Washington | Washington | 21.2 |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts | Massachusetts | 22.0 |
| 10 | West Virginia University | West Virginia | 25.3 |
In addition to tracking the number of players drafted across the three rounds, the researchers also analyzed how many were selected in Round 1 and their MLS appearances in the following season to show which had the most post-draft success.
The top spot is shared by the University of New Hampshireand Lipscomb University, each with two Round 1 picks and an average of 17 MLS appearances following the draft.
Georgetown University ranks second with two Round 1 picks and 14 appearances, while Cornell University takes third with two picks and 11 MLS appearances.
In fourth is theUniversity of North Carolina, with four Round 1 picks and 10 appearances, while Creighton UniversityandOregon State Universityshare fifth place with three picks each and 10 appearances.
Institutions with the top five Round 1 picks and post-draft appearances
| Rank | College/University | Number of Players Picked from SuperDraft Round 1 (2023-25) | Average Number of MLS Appearances in Next Season |
| 1= | University of New Hampshire | 2 | 17 |
| 1= | Lipscomb University | 2 | 17 |
| 2 | Georgetown University | 2 | 14 |
| 3 | Cornell University | 2 | 11 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina | 4 | 10 |
| 5= | Creighton University | 3 | 10 |
| 5= | Oregon State University | 3 | 10 |
Discussing the findings, aCBS Sports Bettingspokesperson said:
“Understanding which colleges and universities consistently produce top MLS talent is interesting and crucial – not just for scouts and clubs, but also for budding student-athletes making decisions about their future.
“High draft pick positions and post-draft appearances indicate strong player development, as well as a clear pathway to the professional game, so those who are focused on long-term progression should consider these institutions when applying.
“It’s exciting to see which programs are rising as elite pipelines to MLS, and it offers us a valuable insight into where the next generation of soccer stars is being shaped. With Missouri schools ranking high in draft value, the state is becoming a hotspot for MLS betting, and the insights may show us which other states could be showing an increased interest in this.”
ENDS
If you cover these findings, please include a linked credit to https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/missouri/ as they conducted the research. Thank you!
Methodology:
The analysis examines MLS SuperDraft selections for all three rounds across the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons, matching each pick to its collegiate or university system. The study also refined this to Round 1 picks over the same three-year period and the number of player appearances in the season immediately after their selection, to identify where they saw the best career start.
Data is gathered from: https://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2024/draft-tracker, https://fbref.com/en/comps/22/2023/stats/2023-Major-League-Soccer-Stats, and https://www.transfermarkt.us/.
Full data is available on request.
Institutions’ MLS SuperDraft picks since 2023
| Rank (Based on Number of Players) | College/University | Number of Players Picked from SuperDraft Rounds 1,2 and 3 (2023-25) | Average SuperDraft Pick Position |
| 1 | University of North Carolina | 42.5 | 15 |
| 2= | Clemson University | 42.1 | 10 |
| 2= | Georgetown University | 48.7 | 10 |
| 3= | Indiana University | 32.3 | 9 |
| 3= | University of California | 40.8 | 9 |
| 4 | University of Maryland | 43.3 | 8 |
| 5= | Syracuse University | 38.3 | 7 |
| 5= | University of Virginia | 39.7 | 7 |
| 5= | Wake Forest University | 50.3 | 7 |
| 5= | California State University | 53.6 | 7 |
| 5= | Western Michigan University | 61.9 | 7 |
| 6= | Oregon State University | 36.7 | 6 |
| 6= | University of Connecticut | 37.2 | 6 |
| 6= | State University System of Florida | 42.5 | 6 |
| 6= | Marshall University | 54.8 | 6 |
| 7= | University of Washington | 21.2 | 5 |
| 7= | University of Portland | 36.8 | 5 |
| 7= | University of Pittsburgh | 37.0 | 5 |
| 7= | Duke University | 44.2 | 5 |
| 7= | Pennsylvania State University | 51.0 | 5 |
| 7= | University of Kentucky | 51.8 | 5 |
| 7= | University of Dayton | 57.6 | 5 |
| 8= | West Virginia University | 25.3 | 4 |
| 8= | Cornell University | 28.0 | 4 |
| 8= | University of Akron | 33.0 | 4 |
| 8= | University of New Hampshire | 38.5 | 4 |
| 8= | Loyola University | 45.5 | 4 |
| 8= | Southern Methodist University | 55.3 | 4 |
| 9= | Creighton University | 13.3 | 3 |
| 9= | Xavier University | 29.7 | 3 |
| 9= | University of Vermont | 32.3 | 3 |
| 9= | Ohio State University | 37.0 | 3 |
| 9= | Hofstra University | 43.0 | 3 |
| 9= | University of Louisville | 51.0 | 3 |
| 9= | University of Pennsylvania | 55.7 | 3 |
| 9= | Boston College | 61.0 | 3 |
| 9= | Rutgers University | 62.7 | 3 |
| 9= | Stanford University | 73.3 | 3 |
| 10= | Lipscomb University | 4.5 | 2 |
| 10= | Saint Louis University | 16.0 | 2 |
| 10= | University of Denver | 33.5 | 2 |
| 10= | University of Wisconsin | 34.0 | 2 |
| 10= | University of San Diego | 37.0 | 2 |
| 10= | University of Notre Dame | 40.5 | 2 |
| 10= | University of Rhode Island | 42.0 | 2 |
| 10= | Bowling Green State University | 49.0 | 2 |
| 10= | Butler University | 55.0 | 2 |
| 10= | Campbell University | 55.0 | 2 |
| 10= | University of South Carolina | 68.0 | 2 |
| 10= | Mercer University | 76.0 | 2 |
| 10= | Providence College | 76.5 | 2 |
| 11= | University of San Francisco | 5.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Missouri State University | 19.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Salt Lake Community College | 19.0 | 1 |
| 11= | University of Michigan | 20.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Yale University | 21.0 | 1 |
| 11= | University of Massachusetts | 22.0 | 1 |
| 11= | University of Detroit Mercy | 26.0 | 1 |
| 11= | High Point University | 28.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Duquesne University | 29.0 | 1 |
| 11= | University of Texas | 31.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Princeton University | 40.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Elon University | 44.0 | 1 |
| 11= | St. Cloud State University | 48.0 | 1 |
| 11= | University of Tulsa | 49.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Northwestern University | 54.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Franklin Pierce University | 55.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Seattle University | 58.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Manhattan College | 60.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Saint Mary’s College | 71.0 | 1 |
| 11= | St. John’s University | 74.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Air Force Academy | 80.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Gonzaga University | 80.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Boston University | 82.0 | 1 |
| 11= | Villanova University | 84.0 | 1 |
| 11= | James Madison University | 85.0 | 1 |