Seven Colorado Rapids Academy Players sign for colleges

Most people thought of Wednesday as the National Signing Day for college football, but there was some movement in the soccer world as well. Seven different Colorado Rapids academy members signed letters of intent for various college programs around the country and some of them were big names.

US Men's National Team U-17 player Dillon Serna made the most waves as he signed for the perennial powerhouse the University of Akron, who won the 2010 NCAA championship before having several players including Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Darlington Nagbe signed to MLS Clubs in the draft. Youngster Shane O'Neill signed for the 2009 NCAA champs, the University of Virginia. Young midfielder Ross LaBauex was originally drafted from those 09 champs.

Other Rapids academy signings included forward Idrissa Camera to Texan college Midwestern State, defender Chris Guirle to the University of New Mexico, midfielder Karstin Hanlin to the University of Denver, defender Jason Prichard to Sterling College and midfielder Rojesh Shrestha to Metropolitan State in Denver.

With training camps still coming up, there may still be a chance for some of the bigger names, mainly Serna, to get a lower level roster spot and spurn the colleges they selected. You may remember that in 2010, that exact scenario unfolded with Davy Armstrong who got a roster spot even after saying he would play for the University of Washington.