Another SuperDraft has come and gone, and 90 young men have had their names called to freshen up rosters across the league. Your Loons combed through nearly 500 eligible players to narrow their focus down to the four picks they ultimately selected, capping off a process of intense scouting, preparation, and speculation.
During post-draft availability, MNUFC Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Khaled El-Ahmad reflected on this year’s draft with excitement, noting the club’s history with draft picks.
“There’s been a track record of draft picks succeeding in this club,” El-Ahmad said. “Even though the landscape of the league has changed over the years, we still see value in this process, and we hope to continue to use it.”
These four young men could turn into All-Stars, club legends, or record transfers: we’ve seen it all before. Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, though, let’s meet these newest Loons:
Pick 23 - Jaylinn Mitchell, Winger, SMU
The Loons took winger Jaylinn Mitchell with their first pick of the draft. Fresh off his junior season at SMU, Mitchell played 20 games, racking up 6 assists primarily on the left-hand side of the pitch. He’s a pacey, versatile attacking threat, with demonstrably strong service from wide areas and a strong ability to take on defenders one-on-one. He’s shown an ability to use both feet effectively, making him a dynamic piece of any roster.
After the draft, El-Ahmad revealed that he and the scouting team would love to see Mitchell utilize his pace and ability to carry the ball with speed at the right wingback position, but acknowledged that his versatility makes him an intriguing addition. If he can pick up the ball from deep, wide positions, his skillset could make him a nightmare when he starts running at backlines.
Pick 53 - Bardia Hormozi, Forward, Princeton University
The Loons’ second pick of the day comes from Princeton University, where he played a variety of positions across three seasons with the Tigers. The 2025 season saw Hormozi play largely as a center forward, but his time in the midfield and on the left side of the attack allowed him to showcase a diverse skillset. Whether he’s linking play during attacking sequences or peeling off the back line to follow his striker’s instinct, Hormozi has demonstrated multiple ways of getting involved in his team’s play.
During Hormozi’s junior season in 2025, he scored six goals and added four assists. He’s a natural attacking player, and whether he joins the club this season or continues his education first, he looks primed to grow into a threatening option in front of goal.
Pick 67 - Aiden Bengard, Defender, Cal State Fullerton
The third round saw the Loons make two picks, the first of which was defender Aiden Bengard. The 6’1” left-footed center back was a red-shirt freshman this season, making him the youngest of the selected players. MNUFC Head of Recruitment Roster Strategy and Negotiation Hank Stebbins noted Bengard’s physical profile as a major positive, pointing out that he’s still quite young.
During his first season of college soccer, Bengard played 17 games, including 13 starts. He managed to score a goal and add two assists from the backline, demonstrating some midfield capabilities and footskills that are rare for defenders. Looking into the future, he could develop into an intriguing option at left center back.
Pick 83 - Michal Mroz, Goalkeeper, University of Evansville
The club’s final pick of the draft pleased Head of Goalkeeping Tom Fawdry the most, who identified Mroz as one to watch after a thorough review of available keepers. Though just a sophomore, Evansville’s starting keeper has demonstrated athleticism and skill beyond his years, making him an exciting prospect to keep an eye on.
This past season, he started all 21 of Evansville’s games, making 86 saves on a 0.723 percent save rate. His 4.10 saves per game put him at second in the Missouri Valley Conference, proving that despite his youth, he’s already a standout performer at his current level.
Quick Takeaways
Now, a few quick reactions. All four players selected were domestic players, meaning that should they sign with the club, they won’t take up international slots. Additionally, the club continues to believe in utilizing a path that includes MNUFC2 as a proving ground or stepping stone before first-team action, though that path is subject to change based on performance in camp or coaching evaluations.
Will we see all of these guys in Black and Blue in 2026? Maybe. Then again, maybe not. One way or another, though, the club has secured their MLS rights, and that means we will very likely see them at some point in the future.
From here, negotiations begin. Not all drafted players go straight to their respective teams, as alluded to earlier. Some players choose to finish their degrees before negotiating with the team that drafted them. Take 2024 pick Marcus Caldeira, for instance. Stebbins revealed that after drafting Caldeira last season and watching him play this year with West Virginia, the club is actively negotiating with the forward to see if he’s ready to make the jump to pro. At the end of the day, the club prioritizes whatever works best for the athlete, leaving the door open for each player to walk their own unique path.
