JOHN LINDROOS
On Dec. 20, 2024, USF Men’s Soccer defender Reid Roberts was drafted fifth overall by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft. Since the MLS introduced the draft in 1996, Roberts is the highest draft pick in USF’s program history.
The last USF student-athlete to be selected was defender Manny Padilla in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, who played for the Dons between 2014 and 2017. Padilla was drafted by the Houston Dynamos as the 89th overall pick.
Roberts said, “I was definitely really stoked to get drafted. Just the ability to stay here in the bay, it’s definitely a dream of mine. There’s not a single place I’d rather be than here and be able to come down and watch my school play and my soccer family there.”
Roberts played three seasons on the Hilltop, earning All-WCC First Team honors and a WCC Defensive Player of the Week Award in 2023. To cap off his collegiate career, Roberts won 2024 WCC Defensive Player of the Year along with his second consecutive WCC First Team appearance. Roberts started in all 50 games played for the Dons and finished with a total of two goals and three assists.
“It’s been great at USF, my greatest memory was definitely beating Stanford, both last year and the year before,” he said.
Head Coach Chris Brown said, “From the time I recruited Reid from Real Colorado, he has been on a mission to turn our team into one of the best teams in the WCC and become one of the best defenders in the country. We are so proud of him for his individual accomplishments and thankful for everything he has poured into this program. Reid is a true Don!”
Sophomore midfielder Kian Jones said, “[Roberts] was very disciplined, held himself to a higher standard, and always led by example. This is what made him the most consistent player on our team.”
The 21-year-old junior was born in Fort Collins, Colorado and now lives in Florida, but said that his teammates created a home for him at USF. “The guys are a big part of my life. I never thought I would be so close to [a group of] people,” he said. “They were pretty much my only friends, but also my family. Being with them, [it] built me a home.”
Junior forward Isaiah Easley said, “I came in a new transfer as Reid’s roommate and he immediately accepted me with open arms. He’s not only such a great leader, friend, and professional on the field, he’s the same off the field,” Easley said. “I have not met anyone with his attention to detail and hunger to improve everyday like Reid.”
This hunger carries over to Roberts’ education, as he currently plans to finish his finance degree over the course of this year and next year either at USF, or online through another school.
Moving forward to the professional leagues, Roberts said one of the toughest challenges will be playing in a more competitive environment. He said that he will be playing against players who are much older than him. Roberts expects to play less minutes than he did at the collegiate level. “My goal is to play as much as possible the first year, but [also] being able to push through the mental part of it and staying positive when I don’t get what I want,” he said.
The San Jose Earthquakes’ rookie played his first preseason game against the Los Angeles Football Club on Jan. 25. Roberts emphasized playing against 2018 World Cup Champion and Frenchman Olivier Giroud. “One of the greatest strikers in the world. Crazy,” Roberts said.
The Earthquakes open up their 2025 season against the Real Salt Lake on Feb. 22 at home at PayPal Park, where Roberts will get the chance to make his professional debut.
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Premmer, Chief Copy Editor: Sophia McCrackin, Managing Editor: Jordan DelFiugo, News Editor: Deeya Gupta, Sports Editor: John Lindroos
