MLS Draft: UCSB’s Michael Tetteh Added To 2011 Generation Adidas Class

One of the only shallow positions in the upcoming 2011 MLS SuperDraft is fullback, specifically left back. That position gained some depth as UC Santa Barbara’s Michael Tetteh became the 10th player to be signed to this year’s Generation Adidas class. The news was first reported by Presidio Sports and confirmed by Soccer by Ives.

Tetteh had been expected to return to UCSB for his senior season, but has long been considered a quality pro prospect. He has scored six goals and registered eight assists during his first three years, while helping lead the Gauchos to Big West championships in each of the past two years and into the NCAA Tournament all three years. Last year, injuries limited Tetteh to 15 matches, but he’s now fully healthy.

“We expected it might happen,” UCSB coach Tim Vom Steeg said of Tetteh going pro. “He was on the list last year. It’s great for him and good for our program.”

Tetteh joins Will Bruin (forward, Indiana University), Corey Hertzog (forward, Penn State University), Perry Kitchen (midfielder, University of Akron), Zac MacMath (goalkeeper, University of Maryland), Darlington Nagbe (midfielder/forward, University of Akron), Michael Nanchoff (midfielder, University of Akron) Omar Salgado (forward, unattached), Kofi Sarkodie (defender, University of Akron) and Zarek Valentin (defender, University of Akron) as members of this year’s Generation Adidas class. Generation Adidas players are those who have not graduated from college and whose contracts do not count against their MLS teams’ salary budgets.