Our Signing Class Analysis series winds down with one of the most impressive classes in the country.

Duke

Signed: Jake Butwin (Alberston SC), Sean Akira Davis (New York Red Bulls), Nat Eggleston (DC United), Chase Keesling (CASL), Andrew Morales (CASL), Nick Palodichuk (Seattle Sounders), Matt Slotnick (Hicksville Strikers), Riley Wolfe (LA Galaxy)

Skinny: Dynamite class for the Blue Devils. Palodichuk, Davis and Wolfe were Top 100 prospects who should be great college additions. Eggleston is a standout defender who has experience in the U.S. National Team program.

This is exactly the kind of injection the program needs if it wishes to get over the hump against the rest of the ACC powers.   

San Diego State

Signed: Evyn Hewett (So Cal Brigade), Kendall Modiste (California Development Academy), Dustin Scibilia (FC San Diego), Tyler Smith (West Coast)

Skinny: The strength of the Aztecs’ class will come in their college transfers – in the immediate future, anyway. But first, let’s look at the freshman: Hewett is a 6-foot-3 defender who is comfortable with the ball at his feet; Modiste is a solid midfielder who comes from a winning environment at the California Development Academy while Smith and Scibilia are both strong midfielders with great size and ability.

The players who will add instant depth, though are transfers Michael Channell (Furman), Kevin Bick (Indiana), Abraham Villon (Arizona Western) and Ata Ozbay (Wisconsin). Adding experienced players who will have the ability to step right in will be a great luxury for a team jostling for its place in the new Pac-12.

Marshall

Signed: Johnathan Mitchell (Huntsville, Alabama), Logan Powell (Beckley, WV) Cade Parton (Durban, South Africa),
Skinny: Marshall didn’t lose much of anything from a season ago, which is encouraging because they need all the help they can get in moving up the Conference USA pecking order and competing with teams like SMU and UCF.

Mitchell is a seasoned left-footed defender who is capable of building the attack. Logan will provide the team with another goalkeeper and could be a future factor with his size and build. Parton comes by way of South Africa and is a versatile player who could fit in with the program in one of a few capacities.  

Drake

Signed: Conor Parrish (Liberty, Mo.) Ross Payne (Overland Park, KS), Mitch Sackett (Keller, Texas), Thomas Schermoly (Olathe, KS) Kyle Whigham (Overland Park, KS)

Skinny: The Bulldogs finished in the middle of the Missouri Valley pack a season ago, but the value of last year was that they continued to grow with their young core. You can add five new faces to that group including forward Schermoly, a 6-foot-3 prospect who could turn into a strong target striker. The rest of the group is also made up of attackers except for Sackett who will become the third goalkeeper on the team’s roster and should enjoy a season of apprenticeship.