The men’s college soccer season begins next week, offering a blank slate for new legends to emerge and stamp their legacy on the beautiful game. The TDS Player of the Year award is at the top of it all, awarded annually to the most impactful star of the collegiate season. With the excitement for the season at a fever pitch, here is a look back at the legends who have won the TDS POTY trophy and what they are up to now.

Darren Mattocks, Akron (2011)

The electric forward scored 21 goals in 22 matches to win the 2011 award as a sophomore at Akron. He was then selected second by the Vancouver Whitecaps, beginning a decade-long professional career with over 200 appearances and 34 MLS goals. His exploits with the Jamaican national team were even more noteworthy as he recorded 18 goals in 50 appearances as one of the country’s leaders in career goals.

Eriq Zavaleta, Indiana (2012)

Another to win the award as a sophomore, Zavaleta earned the 2012 recognition after scoring 18 and assisting four to lead Indiana to the College Cup trophy. The Indiana native was drafted tenth by the Seattle Sounders, where he became an MLS Cup-winning defender for Toronto FC in 2017 and LA Galaxy in 2024. Zavaleta ultimately chose the El Salvador national team, making his debut in 2021 and compiling 27 appearances to date.

Harry Shipp, Notre Dame (2013)

Shipp is a vital piece of college soccer lore, not just for winning the 2013 award and College Cup, but also the controversy that ensued. The debate revolved around whether the Illinois native could be classified as a homegrown signing for the Chicago Fire or if the draft had to be his path into the MLS. The league’s decision to classify Shipp as a homegrown talent significantly morphed how the league evaluated possible signings and their decision-making for the draft. On the field, Shipp enjoyed a seven-year career that included over 100 MLS appearances and a 2019 MLS Cup title with the Seattle Sounders.

Joshua Yaro, Georgetown (2014)

After earning the award as a sophomore in 2014, the Ghanaian/American center back played another season with Georgetown before the Philadelphia Union selected him with the second pick. Yaro has since bounced around different levels of the professional game and is currently playing with St. Louis City in the MLS.

Jordan Morris, Stanford (2015)

Morris was a groundbreaking star at Stanford, most notably in 2014 when he became the first college player in 15 years to earn a cap for the United States senior national team. By the time he won the POTY award and College Cup as a junior in 2015, the explosive attacker had already scored for the national team in a friendly versus Mexico. The Seattle native opted out of his senior season to sign a homegrown deal with the Seattle Sounders and has made 261 appearances and scored 88 goals as the club’s all-time leading scorer. The two-time MLS Cup champion and 2022 CONCACAF Champions League winner has made 55 appearances for the national team, scoring 11.

Ian Harkes, Wake Forest (2016)

Harkes earned the 2016 award for his efforts leading Wake Forest to the College Cup final, then signed a Homegrown contract with D.C. United in the aftermath. The Deacs legend has split his professional career between the MLS and Scottish Premiership, most recently signing with the San Jose Earthquakes.

Tomas Hilliard-Arce, Stanford (2017)

A true college soccer icon, Hilliard-Arce was instrumental to the Stanford team that won three consecutive College Cup titles between his sophomore and senior seasons. The three-peat triumph saw the dominant center back win the 2017 POTY award before the LA Galaxy selected him with the second pick of the draft. The Connecticut native played a few professional seasons before retiring in 2020.

Andrew Gutman, Indiana (2018)

Illinois native Gutman won the 2018 award after scoring 11 and assisting nine as a defender for the Hoosiers. Gutman then turned down a Homegrown deal with the Chicago Fire to sign for Celtic in Scotland. Despite that initial move, the two-way left back made his career in the MLS, starting with FC Cincinnati in 2019, the New York Red Bulls in 2021, Atlanta United in 2022, the Colorado Rapids in 2023, and currently the Chicago Fire.

Joe Bell, Virginia (2019)

Bell has arguably been the best professional player of any POTY winner. While still in college, the versatile defensive midfielder starred with the New Zealand youth national team at the U20 World Cup, then made his senior debut at the tail end of his last season at Virginia. Bell led the Cavaliers to the College Cup final that season, signed with Viking FK in the Norwegian First Division shortly after, and has become a regular for the team and New Zealand.

Veljko Petkovic, Pittsburgh (2020)

The New York native won the award as a sophomore in 2020, then played one more season at Pittsburgh. Petkovic then spent a season in the MLS Next Pro with Minnesota United in 2022.

Dante Polvara, Georgetown (2021)

Another to take the international route after winning the award, Polvara opted out of his senior season and a Homegrown contract with New York City FC to sign with Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen. The versatile midfielder most recently helped the team lift the 2025 Scottish Cup trophy, their first since 1990.

Duncan McGuire, Creighton (2022)

Joining Morris as the other POTY winner to earn a USMNT cap, McGuire was drafted 6th by Orlando City after his epic breakout season at Creighton, quickly becoming one of the best goalscorers in the MLS. The Nebraska native made his national team debut in 2024.

Bryan Dowd, Notre Dame (2023)

The first goalkeeper to win the award, Dowd was instrumental to the Notre Dame team that reached the 2023 College Cup final. He was then drafted sixth by the Chicago Fire and has spent his time on loan to different clubs in the USL Championship and MLS Next Pro.

Sam Bassett, Denver (2024)

The most recent recipient led Denver to the 2024 College Cup semifinal before signing a homegrown deal with the Colorado Rapids. The midfielder has so far made 10 appearances in his debut MLS season, recording one assist.