BALTIMORE, Md. – Nkosi Burgess of Seattle University men's soccer was selected by FC Dallas with the 14th pick in the first round of the 2020 Major League Soccer SuperDraft on Thursday. Burgess is the highest draft pick in program history and becomes the fifth Redhawk to be drafted in the last four years.
"It's an absolute honor to be selected by FC Dallas and in the first round," said Burgess. "You think about moments like this as a kid and now that it's here, it's an incredible feeling. I'm looking forward to getting started."
"I'm thrilled for Nkosi," said Coach Pete Fewing. "I think he has a great opportunity. Dallas was high on him. The fact that they took him with their first pick shows that they value him quite a bit."
Burgess, a native of Manhattan, New York, made a big impact in his lone season at SU. The center back earned WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming the third Redhawk to win the award in the last four seasons. Burgess was a United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region First Team choice. He started 18 matches, anchoring an SU backline that compiled 10 shutouts on the year.
SU has now had seven players picked in the MLS Draft. Burgess joins Alex Roldan (2018) as a first-round selection, while Sergio Rivas (2019), Nathan Aune (2019), Kyle Bjornethun (2017), Sean Morris (2011), and Tom Hardy (1998) were also chosen out of Seattle U.
Seattle U owns the nation's longest active unbeaten streak at 16 games. It won the 2019 WAC regular-season and tournament titles on its way to the NCAA Tournament, where the Redhawks beat Loyola Marymount before playing to a draw at Stanford. The Cardinal advanced on penalty kicks following the match.
"It's an absolute honor to be selected by FC Dallas and in the first round," said Burgess. "You think about moments like this as a kid and now that it's here, it's an incredible feeling. I'm looking forward to getting started."
"I'm thrilled for Nkosi," said Coach Pete Fewing. "I think he has a great opportunity. Dallas was high on him. The fact that they took him with their first pick shows that they value him quite a bit."
Burgess, a native of Manhattan, New York, made a big impact in his lone season at SU. The center back earned WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming the third Redhawk to win the award in the last four seasons. Burgess was a United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region First Team choice. He started 18 matches, anchoring an SU backline that compiled 10 shutouts on the year.
SU has now had seven players picked in the MLS Draft. Burgess joins Alex Roldan (2018) as a first-round selection, while Sergio Rivas (2019), Nathan Aune (2019), Kyle Bjornethun (2017), Sean Morris (2011), and Tom Hardy (1998) were also chosen out of Seattle U.
Seattle U owns the nation's longest active unbeaten streak at 16 games. It won the 2019 WAC regular-season and tournament titles on its way to the NCAA Tournament, where the Redhawks beat Loyola Marymount before playing to a draw at Stanford. The Cardinal advanced on penalty kicks following the match.