ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – After a pair of phenomenal performances in 2019, Cal Jennings and Louis Perez have been invited to the MLS College Showcase which will take place from Dec. 13-15 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The inaugural MLS College Showcase is replacing the traditional MLS combine from years past. The three-day event will allow technical staffs from every MLS club an opportunity to scout the top collegiate prospects in the nation, including players with remaining eligibility. College soccer's top 40 players, ranging from freshmen to seniors, will have the chance to participate in a series of training sessions, testing, interviews and match play without interfering with eligibility. The showcase is scheduled in conjunction with the 2019 NCAA Men's College Cup and is a closed-door scouting event officially sanctioned by the NCAA.
Jennings continued to turn heads this season. He netted 18 goals in 2019 and tallied 40 points, playing in all 20 games this season. His last two seasons have seen him post 38 goals and earn two MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist nods. Jennings finishes his career with 46 goals, etching himself in fourth place on UCF's career goals scored list. Jennings is also fourth in career points at UCF as he collected 108 over his four years as a Knight. He will no doubt go down in program history as one of the best to ever slip on a Knight uniform.
Perez was second on the team in points this season behind Jennings, tallying four goals and 11 assists in his junior campaign. His 11 assists put him just one shy of the single season record in program history. He was near the top of the NCAA assist leaderboard all season and finished the year just one assist shy of a four-way tie for first place. The attacking midfielder has collected seven goals and 16 assists in his UCF career thus far. After winning the team's FIFA video game tournament two seasons in a row, Perez will have a chance to prove that he is good enough to be in the game next season.
Jennings and Perez began the 2019 season on the Hermann Trophy Watch List. Jennings earned his second consecutive nomination to the semifinal group as he is one of 15 student-athletes still in the running for the award. No player in program history had been named as a Hermann Trophy semifinalist before Jennings, and he's done it twice.
The MLS college showcase will help clubs decide who they'd like to select in the 2020 MLS Superdraft held sometime in January. The local MLS team in town, Orlando City, has the number five overall pick as well as three second round selections and a total of six picks in the four round draft process. The official dates of the Superdraft have yet to be released.
FOLLOW THE KNIGHTS
Follow UCF Men's Soccer on social media on Facebook (/UCFMensSoccer), Twitter (@UCF_MSoccer) and Instagram (@UCF.MSoccer).
GET THE APP
Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone. The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news. Click here to download the app now.
