Russell Invited to 2009 Major League Soccer Combine
12/15/2008
Coastal Carolina senior defender Kyle Russell has been invited to the 2009 adidas Major League Soccer Combine, the MLS announced last week. Russell will be one of 65 players invited to the combine, and is one of four players representing the Big South in the combine that commences on Jan. 10 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

CONWAY, S.C.- Senior Kyle Russell (S. Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) has been selected to participate in the 2009 adidas Major League Soccer Player Combine, the MLS announced recently. Russell has been a lynchpin in the Coastal Carolina defense the past four seasons He leaves the program tied for eighth in career matches started (74) and is one of only 10 Chants in program history to play in at least 78 career games. A two-time All-Big South selection, he was also named to the Big South All-Tournament team, as well as the UNCW/Courtyard by Marriott All-Tournament team in his senior season. In his final season as a Chanticleer, Russell showed true durability, as he was one of three Chants to start all 21 contests.

The senior defender is one of 65 college seniors from 45 schools to be selected for the combine. Russell, along with Big South Player of the Year Daniel Revivo of and Otto Lowey of Winthrop and Liberty’s Joshua Boateng are the four players representing the Big South Conference. Other conferences such as the Southern Conference and Atlantic Sun had two players selected.

Russell is the fourth player in program history to be invited to the combine, as alums Joseph Ngewnya, Mubarike Chisoni and Boyzzz Khumalo were also selected in past seasons. Ngwenya made the most of his opportunity, as was selected third overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The South Elgin, Ill. native will look to become the fifth Chanticleer to play in Major League Soccer, and become the third active player in the league for the 2009 season (Kheli Dube, New England Revolution, Boyzzz Khumalo, D.C. United).

The coaching and management staffs of all 15 MLS teams will be in attendance to scout talent at the 2009 adidas MLS Player Combine, which concludes two days before the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. At the 2008 MLS SuperDraft 43 of the 56 players drafted participated in the 2008 adidas MLS Player Combine; 12 combine players were selected in the first round. The 2009 MLS SuperDraft will be held on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 in St. Louis, Mo.

The initial player list was determined by a select panel of Division I college coaches representing all conferences who nominated and voted for players in conjunction with MLS coaches. Youth players from the Generation adidas program will join additional collegiate players from NCAA Division II and III schools, NAIA schools and Division I alternates to finalize the 2009 adidas Player Combine. The final player list and team assignments will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2009 adidas MLS Player Combine will separate all players into four teams and feature two games per day at Lockhart Stadium on Jan. 10, 11 and 13 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.