M-Soccer: Simmons to UCLA?

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Interesting. Topdrawersoccer.com's list of the top 10 men's defenders contains Aaron Simmons - but it says he has transferred to UCLA.

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/top-10-breakdown:-best-mens-defenders_aid28752

Aaron Simmons, UCLA, Junior: After starting every game the past two seasons at SMU, Simmons made the decision to head west and transferred to UCLA, where he’ll spend the last two seasons of his collegiate career. A player of his quality should have no problem slotting into a new back line, and he becomes one of the best defenders on the roster.


UCLA needs to stay away from our soccer people!

Assuming this is true, which I am sure it must be, that sure leaves a big hole in the center of the defense.

On a related note, the men still haven't released their official 2013 class. I wonder if we will have some transfers coming in as well - that seems to be the way things are going more and more these days.

[Higher Authority]

Seriously? That sucks. Simmons is a solid player.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Simmons official to UCLA:

http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/052413aae.html

AND...

Tyler Engel to North Carolina!!!!

http://www.goheels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3350&ATCLID=207785564

I know there are tons of transfers these days, but wow...

[redpony]

How much longer until the AD wakes up and realizes that we need to lose a crummy coach and get a top level soccer coach instead of losing seasoned, experienced players. TMc has been here too long and done too little. We need a coach as good as SH was or better.

[PonySnob]

Top 25 in everything we do........

[ClassOf81]

You mean that horrible coach who won the conference Coach of the Year award?

You have no idea why either player transferred, and it had nothing to do with Coach McClements. Wish them well and move on, and try supporting the team that is on campus ... which should be a good team again.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Top 25 in everything we do........

One of the few SMU teams that actually has been consistently Top 25 in recent years...

Players transfer all the time in soccer now. I don't like it, but it's the way it is.

Granted, these are two pretty productive players, but I will wait to pass judgement until I see our recruiting class and who might potentially be transferring to SMU for the fall.

[redpony]

DFFH- while TMc's teams have managed to crack the top 25 a few times that IMO is not very impressive when you consider that we were almost always in the top 10 with SH.

[mustangbill67]

Top 25 in everything we do........

One of the few SMU teams that actually has been consistently Top 25 in recent years...

Players transfer all the time in soccer now. I don't like it, but it's the way it is.

Granted, these are two pretty productive players, but I will wait to pass judgement until I see our recruiting class and who might potentially be transferring to SMU for the fall.

while I know nothing of the reasons and they could be valid, we have lost VandeGriffe,
Corrado, Derschang, Barnes and now Simmons and Engel to transfer over the past 4 years. Pretty good players. Heard a rumor, confirmed by someone who should know, that we are in the transfer hunt for super forward Alfred Koroma, Solar Chelsea, Arkon and the Under 17 Men's national team. Went to HS at Southlake. Apparently between us and Creighton.

[PonyPride]

While on the subject of soccer transfers, don't overlook Jacob Speed, a 6-foot-3-inch defender who played in all 21 games — starting 20 — for Kentucky last year. Pure defenders often don't rack up big statistics, but his 1,815 minutes played were the second-most on the entire UK roster, showing that he was a major cog in the Wildcats' defense. Speed enrolled at SMU in January; he sat out the Mustangs' spring workouts while recovering from a shoulder injury, but got the advantage of spending the semester around his new teammates and coaches, getting to know the system, etc.

He was TopDrawerSoccer.com's No. 54 recruit in the nation coming out of high school in Mansfield, Texas … Was invited to U.S. Soccer Development Academy in 2012 … Played significant role in Kentucky's 1-0 shutout over then-No. 18 Louisville ...

From his Kentucky bio:

Earned three letters for coach John Frazekas at Mansfield High School ... Played with the club team Dallas Texans and coach David Hudgell from 2008-12, joining UK signee Caleb Richardson on the Texans ... Was on the NTX ODP State team (92 boys) and the NTX ODP State team (93 boys) ... With club team in 2011, led the team to an undefeated season, a USSDA Regional Championship and a third-place USSDA National Finalists ... Led high school to the bi-district championship as a freshman and sophomore ... In 2009, Mansfield finished as a regional quarter finalist and in 2010 was a regional semi finalists ... Was a first-team all-district honoree in 2010 and honorable mention all-district as a freshman ... Was named the Mansfield High School Utility Player of the Year in 2009 as a freshman ... Was named the Man of the Match at the USSDA Finals in 2011 ... Was the team captain of the Dallas Texas U-18 academy in 2011 ... Was named to the all-district academic team in 2010.

Full name is Jacob Aaron Speed ... Son of Ricky and Jeriann Speed ... Born Sept. 9, 1993 in Fort Worth, Texas ... Has a younger brother, Jordan (16) ... Interested in pursuing a major in kinesiology ... Was active in the community through his involvement in the Walnut Ridge Baptist Church youth group in Mansfield ... Father Ricky played basketball at Southwestern Oklahoma State University ... Cousin, Richard Reed played football for Oklahoma and professional with the Denver Broncos.

http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-soc ... cob00.html

[ClassOf81]

That's quite a pedigree. Is it safe to assume he steps into Simmons' spot right away?

We normally have pretty small players. Who's the last player we had who was at least that tall and contributed regularly?

[smitty329]

Just had a brief conversation with Aaron at LAX before boarding our flight to Dallas. For what it's worth he is still sporting his SMU soccer back pack. That's what started the conversation.