University of Michigan men’s soccer unveils 9-player recruiting class
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – University of Michigan men’s soccer head coach Chaka Daley announced Wednesday (May 27) the additions of nine newcomers to the team’s 2020 roster.
Eight of the signees will be freshmen, including Bryce Blevins (Plainfield, Illinois), Jamis Fite (West Hartford, Connecticut), Jens Hoff (Drammen, Norway), Daniel Massey (Sparta, New Jersey), Quin Rogers (San Jose, California), Bode Saul (Los Gatos, California), Simon Vasquez (Weston, Florida) and Ethan Wood (Syosset, New York).
The class also includes Cameron Martin (Mill Creek, Washington), a transfer who spent the past two years at the University of San Francisco.
“We are delighted to add these nine newcomers to our program in 2020,” said Daley. “These student-athletes are not only talented soccer players that will complement our returning group, but they are outstanding young men who will become amazing ambassadors for our program.”
Bryce Blevins
Midfielder | Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield North) | FC United
An attacking midfielder, Blevins was a U.S. men’s national team pool player from 2012-17 and was named a 2019 Winter DA standout by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Originally an academy player at Liverpool FC, Blevins was also a member of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 U.S. National Futsal Team.
Daley on Blevins: “Bryce possesses a real technical pedigree. He’s a versatile midfielder with a special left foot, and is confident on either flank or in the hole behind the strikers. He can beat players with his passing or on the dribble and is a constant goal threat.”
Jamis Fite
Goalkeeper | West Hartford, Conn. (Loomis Chaffee) | Black Rock FC
Fite comes from the same club, Black Rock FC, as current Wolverines Umar Farouk Osman and Inaki Rodriguez. Fite is a two-time NEPSAC Class ‘A’ All-Star, and was the MVP of the 2019 Allstate All-American Game. Fite was named to the 2019 All-USA Today Preseason High School Boys Soccer Team.
Daley on Fite: “Jamis showcased his ability in the Allstate All-American Game where he was awarded the Most Valuable Player award. His maturity and competitive edge, coupled with his shot-stopping qualities, will help prepare him for the collegiate game. We are confident that he will come in prepared and eager to grow.”
Jens Hoff
Defender | Drammen, Norway (Norwegian School of Elite Sports) | Asker FK, Strømsgodset TF
Primarily a centerback, Hoff spent the past few years playing lower-level club soccer in Norway. He played in 34 regular-season matches and three PostNord LIga matches with Asker FK, scoring three goals. Hoff also played 21 matches the Strømsgodset TF U-19s, and has played internationally against clubs from England, Spain, Germany and Argentina.
Daley on Hoff: “Jens is a powerful defender who brings high-level playing experience to the group from Norway. He will add a physical presence to the defense, as well as real passing quality and composure on the ball, making him a great fit with our style of play.”
Daniel Massey
Midfielder | Sparta, N.J. (Shattuck-St. Mary’s [MN])
A versatile midfielder, Massey helped top-ranked Shattuck-St. Mary’s reach the USSDA Academy quarterfinals in 2019. He also has international experience playing as part of a Select Team in Spain and in Germany with CSA Bergen.
Daley on Massey: “Daniel is a combative midfield player who will add instant steel to the squad. His work rate and competitiveness will help push the group mentality forward, while his ability to connect the game from back to front will be equally valuable.”
Quin Rogers
Midfielder | San Jose, Calif. (Bellarmine College Prep) | De Anza Force SC
A holding midfielder, Rogers is club teammates with fellow signee Bode Saul. Rogers was instrumental in helping the De Anza Force U-17s reach the 2019 USSDA semifinals, himself being named to the USSDA Best XI in the West Region. Across the last two seasons, Rogers logged 39 starts, scoring 13 goals. He is a five-year team captain.
Daley on Rogers: “Quin is an all-round central midfielder and a leader who sees the game with great maturity. He can exploit space with the quality and range of his passing and offers a goal threat from distance and in set-piece situations.”
Bode Saul
Midfielder | Los Gatos, Calif. (Los Gatos) | De Anza Force SC
A versatile midfielder, Saul is club teammates with fellow signee Quin Rogers. Saul helped the De Anza Force U-17s reach the 2019 USSDA semifinals. He trained with Cordoba CF in Spain and scored six goals in four matches in the Mediterranean International Cup.
Daley on Saul: “Bode is a dynamic attacking player who is equally comfortable driving out of central areas or cutting in from the flank. He is quick and agile on the ball, and possesses an aggressive mentality that will fit well with our returning group.”
Simon Vasquez
Midfielder | Weston, Fla. (Somerset Academy) | Weston FC
A holding midfielder, Vasquez comes from the same club, Weston FC, as rising senior Carlos Tellez. Vasquez was invited to the Generation Adidas International in Madrid, Spain, in 2018 and captained Weston FC to the U-16 national quarterfinals the same year.
Daley on Vasquez: “Simon is a technically gifted central player who can dictate the tempo of a game. His comfort level technically and tactically is high, and he keeps the game impressively simple for someone so young.”
Ethan Wood
Goalkeeper | Syosset, N.Y. (Syosset) | NYCFC Academy
Wood has extensive experience training with the NYCFC Academy. He helped the club reach the USSDA Playoffs in both 2018 and 2019, and was between the pipes for the club’s run to the quarterfinals of the USSDA Academy Cup in December. Wood was selected for the Deutscher Futbal-Bund MLS Goalkeeper select camp in Munich, Germany, last August and participated in training sessions with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Jan. 2018.
Daley on Wood: “Ethan comes from one of the best academies in the country in NYCFC. His game management, technical ability and distribution qualities set him apart from a lot of young goalkeepers his age. Ethan will help strengthen and elevate an already competitive goalkeeping corps.”
Cameron Martin
Midfielder | Mill Creek, Wash. (Henry M. Jackson/University of San Francisco) | Seattle Sounders Academy
Martin comes to Michigan after spending the last two years at the University of San Francisco. He suited up in 24 matches(19 starts) for the Dons, tallying five points on two goals and one assist. A midfielder, Martin was named West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team in 2018 and was ranked No. 46 on TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Men’s NCAA Top 100 Freshmen List. Before college, he played in 98 USSDA matches for the Seattle Sounders Academy, scoring 24 goals. He also made eight appearances (four starts) with Seattle Sounders 2. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Daley on Martin: “Cameron brings immediate quality and experience to the group, having played an influential midfield role at the University of San Francisco the past two years. He has a very high soccer IQ coupled with top-level vision and passing. He makes those around him better.”