With the seventh pick of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft at its disposal FC Dallas has a chance to harvest a great talent from this year's crop of incoming rookies. Below is a look back at the seventh picks of the last five SuperDrafts, and how they've faired in the pros since their names were called.
Year: 2012
Name: Nick DeLeon
Position: Midfielder
Drafted by: D.C. United
Current team: D.C. United
Nick DeLeon made a name for himself as a Rookie of the Year finalist in his freshman season with D.C. United. The Louisville product made an immediate impact, getting his first start three matches into the season before compiling 25 starts for the Black and Red in 2012. DeLeon scored six goals and four assists in 28 regular season appearances and scored two goals for United during the MLS Playoffs.
Year: 2011
Name: Kofi Sarkodie
Position: Defender
Drafted by: Houston Dynamo
Current team: Houston Dynamo
Kofi Sarkodie struggled to establish himself as a starter in his first two seasons with the Houston Dynamo. In his first year out of the University of Akron, Sarkodie started seven of seven appearances for Houston. The young defender made the same number of starts through 10 regular season appearances in 2012. But as the Dynamo struggled to deal with injuries down the stretch last year, Sarkodie stepped up and started in each of Houston's six postseason matches - including the MLS Cup Final against the LA Galaxy - and scored his first professional goal in the team's 3-1 Eastern Conference Championship Leg One win.
Year: 2010
Name: Jack McInerney
Position: Forward
Drafted by: Philadelphia Union
Current team: Philadelphia Union
Better known as "Jack Mac" to the Sons of Ben, Jack McInerny skipped college and entered straight into the SuperDraft out of high school in 2010. Since then, the young forward has seen his workload steadily increase for the Union; making one start in 17 appearances his rookie year, five in 18 in 2011, and 18 starts in 25 appearances last year. McInerny led Philadelphia in scoring with eight goals in 2012 and was second on the team in assists with three.
Year: 2009
Name: Chris Pontius
Position: Forward
Drafted by: D.C. United
Current team: D.C. United
D.C. United drafted another MLS-ready rookie back in 2009 by selecting forward Chris Pontius with the number seven pick. Pontius appeared in 28 of United's 30 regular season matches as a rookie while making 23 starts. Unfortunately, the University of California-Santa Barbara product was limited to 17 appearances (13 starts) due to a lingering hamstring injury in 2010. Pontius was in the midst of a breakout season in 2011 after starting each of United's first 25 matches - scoring seven goals and five assists along the way - until the young forward suffered a broken leg in early September that cut his season short. In 2012 Pontius set career highs in goals (12), games played (31), games started (26), minutes (2,339), shots (71) and shots on goal (29) on his way to finishing second in MLS Comeback Player of the Year Voting
Year: 2008
Name: Patrick Nyarko
Position: Forward
Drafted by: Chicago Fire
Current team: Chicago Fire
Patrick Nyarko saw limited first team action in his rookie season with the Chicago Fire, getting just two starts through nine games played. Since then, however, the forward has been a regular feature in the Chicago starting XI. Nyarko started 22 games in 2009 and 2010, respectively, 24 games in 2011 and 31 in 2012. The Virginia Tech product also played the full 90 minutes of Chicago's lone playoff match of 2012, a 2-1 loss to the Houston Dynamo.
