2012 MLS Superdraft: FC Dallas Select Matt Hedges #11 Overall

by Daniel Robertson on Jan 12, 2012 12:15 PM CST

With the #11 overall selection, FC Dallas took UNC center back Matt Hedges. Hedges was a second team all-american in 2010 and a first team All-American in 2011 while starting opposite FCD Academy product Boyd Okwuono at center back for the national champion Tar Heels.

Lots more to come on Hedges, but he figures to slot right in and compete for the starting center back position likely vacated by the departure of George John. Hedges was projected as the best defender of the draft before inexplicably falling to #11 after a relatively poor combine.

JR Eskilson rated him as the best senior of the draft while Travis Clark had him as the 3rd best senior.

To toot my own horn, I nailed this pick in our SB Nation Mock Draft and had this to say...

Schellas Hyndman and company can't believe their luck when 6-foot-4, 185-pound monster center back Matt Hedges falls to them at No. 11. Paired with FCD Academy graduate Boyd Okwuono at center back, Hedges led the UNC Tar Heels to the national championship in his senior season and comes to an FC Dallas team thin at center back with the impending departure of George John.

Hedges, the highest rated senior center back in the draft, should step right into the FC Dallas squad and compete with recent Colombian signing Hernan Pertuz as the starting center back opposite Ugo Ihemelu. The man from Carmel, Ind. who spent his first three years at Butler University, compares very similar to John as a defender. Both are players who are very good in the air and a threat to score some headers on set pieces. He will need to improve his distribution out of the back, but could give FC Dallas a dominant center back pairing from Day 1.

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A strong defensive core short- and long-term

Suddenly FCD is stacked at CB, even if GJ’s loan becomes permanent. Between Ugo, Pertuz, Hedges, whichever Panamanians end up in Frisco, and the eventual arrival of Boyd, young, cost-effective central defenders should be a strength of this club for years.
Hopefully one or two of them are versatile enough to swing to RB in pinch, too. We know Ugo can, but I’d prefer he stay in the middle for continuity’s sake.

Now to address the sudden RM crisis…

by fennsk1 on Jan 12, 2012 12:25 PM CST reply actions

Just me...

or does he look disappointed?

For a guy who just got a shot at a professional sporting career, he doesn’t seem too excited. Hopefully it’s just good poise and makes it onto the field with him.

by Timothy Winning Voyles on Jan 12, 2012 1:13 PM CST reply actions

I was impressed by his familiarity with FCD

His recognition of his own similarities with GJ made me feel good about this pick.

by fennsk1 on Jan 12, 2012 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

Nice point!

The fact that he recognized that and mentioned it a bit relieving. When he gets the chance to speak to the staff at least he knows why he was picked lol. John has done very well here and if this kid can do a self comparison to him, hopefully we can all do the same!

Time to start photoshopping his head on the superman outfit?

by Timothy Winning Voyles on Jan 12, 2012 1:30 PM CST up reply actions

Combine Performance

This is about the best news draft news FCD could have. Apparently, the reason Hedges (once touted as the best Def. in the draft) fell into FCD’s hands is because of a less than stellar combine performance. But the notes that I’ve read were more mixed. It seems he definitely has the tools physically, but needs to improve his decision making with the ball.

As far as I am concerned, that was good to hear, because you cannot teach the physical gifts, but the decision-making can and will be ingrained in him, and Hartman, Hernandez, and Ugo will be able to groom his development. Unlike NCAA basketball and football (aka throwball) players, NCAA soccer players are actual college students first and foremost, meaning they do not undergo the intense, around the clock physical and mental training regimen of the pros. I was more worried to hear that he disappointed at the combine for more substantive reasons than this. The notes also suggests he has a good power shot as a bonus, and at 6’ 4" he gives us much needed height. He might even win the occasional header from Zach Loyd in practice (but not very often LOL).

Of course you never know how a player will pan out until they are fully tested on the pitch, but this appears to be fabulous news. Now, lets work to keep Jackson and sign one more proven striker please!

by rtschaefer on Jan 12, 2012 2:10 PM CST reply actions