This summer is one of the last chances for Mauricio Pochettino to work with players before the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Pochettino called in 27 players for the dress rehearsal camp before the Gold Cup, and several of them developed through the college pathway. Here are the 13 former college players who were called up to this USMNT roster:
*Note: Walker Zimmerman, a former college player, was called in as a replacement. He is in the article, but not counted as one of the 13 on the initial roster release.
Matt Freese (GK) – Harvard University
Matt Freese’s breakout year at Harvard was his sophomore season in 2018. He had 70 saves in 13 starts during that campaign. At the end of that year, he signed a Homegrown contract with the Philadelphia Union.
The Philadelphia native hit the big stage in MLS in 2023 with NYCFC when he finished that campaign as their starting goalkeeper, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Patrick Schulte (GK) – Saint Louis University
Patrick Schulte was one of the 27 players announced but had to be replaced by the Chicago Fire’s Chris Brady due to an oblique injury. Schulte’s best season with Saint Louis was his junior year in 2021, when he posted a career-best nine clean sheets in 21 starts. He was awarded a Generation Adidas contract after that season and drafted by the Columbus Crew with the 12th overall pick in the 2022 SuperDraft. He went on to help the Crew win the MLS Cup in 2023.
Zack Steffen (GK) – University of Maryland
Zack Steffen was one of the 27 players announced but left camp due to a knee injury. Steffen played two seasons as a Maryland Terrapin before going to Germany to play at SC Freiburg. He returned to the States the following year and won the 2018 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year with the Columbus Crew before joining Manchester City.
After a difficult stint in Manchester, he returned to the States again, this time with the Colorado Rapids, where he has found success now in his second season with the club.
Matt Turner (GK) – Fairfield University
Matt Turner earned the starting job at Fairfield in his Junior year and went on to keep 20 clean sheets in 37 starts across his final two years in college. He went undrafted in the 2016 SuperDraft but earned a contract with the New England Revolution after a successful preseason trial.
Turner took that initial contract and turned it into a seven-year career in MLS, followed by an opportunity to try his trade in the Premier League.
Max Arfsten (LB) – University of California, Davis
Max Arfsten’s breakout campaign at UC Davis was in 2021 when he tallied 15 goal contributions (8g/7a) in 18 starts. The midfielder then joined the San Jose Earthquakes II, playing in MLS NEXT Pro, tallying another 15 goal contributions (9g/6a) in 2022. He was drafted by the Columbus Crew with their 14th pick in the 2023 SuperDraft and was on the bench for the Crew in the MLS Cup Final when they lifted the Cup that season.
DeJuan Jones (RB) – Michigan State University
DeJuan Jones was one of the 27 players announced but had to be replaced due to a lower body injury and was replaced by Nathan Harriel. Jones’ college career took off in 2017, his Junior year, when he had his best offensive output, 13 goal contributions (7g/6a). In his four-year college career, he finished with 30 goal contributions (16g/14a) in 46 starts.
Jones was selected 11th overall in the 2019 SuperDraft by Bruce Arena’s New England Revolution, but has been a bit of a journeyman the last couple of seasons, currently playing for Arena again, this time with the San Jose Earthquakes.
Mark McKenzie (CB) – Wake Forest University
Mark McKenzie played one season at Wake Forest before signing a homegrown contract with the Philadelphia Union. During that 2017 season, McKenzie was named to the ACC All-Tournament Team.
McKenzie played for three years with the Union before transferring to Belgian side Genk, where he spent five seasons. He finished this past European season with French team Toulouse, where he made 31 starts across all competitions.
Tim Ream (CB) – Saint Louis University
Tim Ream became an every-game starter as a Sophomore, and finished his four-year college career with 18 goal contributions (6g/12a) as a defender. Ream was drafted by the New York Red Bulls with their 18th pick in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft.
Ream played two seasons with the Red Bulls before making his way to England, where he left a legacy behind after playing nine seasons with Fulham. He has come back to the States and MLS playing for Charlotte FC.
Miles Robinson (CB) – Syracuse University
Miles Robinson played two years with Syracuse, earning multiple All-Freshman awards, and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a Sophomore.
In 2017, Robinson was selected second overall by Atlanta United in the MLS SuperDraft and went on to win an MLS Cup with them in 2018. He has been playing with FC Cincinnati for the past two years.
Sebastian Berhalter (CM) – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Sebastian Berhalter played one year at UNC, making nine starts. He then signed a homegrown contract with the Columbus Crew, where his dad, Gregg Berhalter, had previously coached. He then spent one season with Austin FC on loan before being transferred to the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2022.
Berhalter is in the middle of a breakout season with 10 goal contributions (4g/6a) across all competitions, helping the Whitecaps maintain their place near the top of the MLS Supporters’ Shield while also going to the Concacaf Champions Cup Final. Berhalter was suspended, so he did not end up getting a chance to play in the CCC Final.
Sean Zawadzki (CM) – Georgetown University
Sean Zawadzki was one of the 27 players announced but had to be replaced due to a knee injury and was replaced by Walker Zimmerman. Zawadzki was a leader on the pitch during his four years at Georgetown and was awarded as such with the Ricardo Mendoza Award for spirit, leadership, and dedication. He was a team captain during his Junior and Senior years, and was the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He made 70 starts across his four-year college career.
Zawadzki was signed by the Columbus Crew to a Homegrown contract in 2022 and made an appearance in the Crew’s MLS Cup Final win in 2023. When healthy, he has become a weekly starter in MLS.
Patrick Agyemang (CF) – University of Rhode Island
Patrick Agyemang spent two full years at Rhode Island after transferring there from Division III school Eastern Connecticut State. Agyemang also earned six starts at Rhode Island during a shortened 2020 season. In his Rhode Island career, he made 33 starts with 31 goal contributions (19g/12a). He made the Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team in 2021 and 2022.
Charlotte FC drafted Agyemang with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 SuperDraft. He has 27 goal contributions (22g/5a) in 72 appearances in all competitions with Charlotte.
Brian White (CF) – Duke University
Brian White finished his four-year career at Duke with 63 starts and 34 goal contributions (23g/11a) and made the All-American third team his senior year. White was then drafted by the New York Red Bulls with the 16th overall pick and spent three and a half seasons with New York before being traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Vancouver is where White’s career has taken off as he has hit double-digit goals in four of his five seasons with the club, and helped them get to the CCC Final this year.
Replacements
Walker Zimmerman (CB) – Furman University
Walker Zimmerman was a replacement for Zawadzki (knee). Zimmerman played two seasons at Furman before earning a Generation Adidas contract and being drafted seventh overall by FC Dallas in the 2013 SuperDraft.
Zimmerman is now in his 13th season in MLS and sixth with Nashville SC. In his career, he has helped Dallas and LAFC win the Supporters’ Shield (2016 and 2019, respectively) and has helped Dallas win the US Open Cup (2016).
