Blair Gavin has followed University of Akron teammate Teal Bunbury by turning pro this month. Both players have signed contracts with Generation adidas and will forgo their remaining college eligibility to enter the 2010 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
Bunbury, a sophomore forward, recently was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America first-team All-American, received national Player of the Year honors from Soccer America and Goal.com and was chosen as the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year.
Gavin, a junior midfielder, was a first-team All-MAC selection.
''This is an exciting day for Teal and Blair, who will be realizing their dreams of playing professional soccer in the very near future,'' UA coach Caleb Porter said.
They will be the fourth and fifth UA men's soccer players taken in the MLS SuperDraft, following Steve Zakuani in 2009 (Seattle Sounders FC, first overall pick), Sinisa Ubiparipovic in 2007 (New York Red Bulls, third round) and Cameron Knowles in 2005 (Real Salt Lake, fourth round).
