NORFOLK, Va. -- Old Dominion defender Michael Nelson was selected in the fourth round, 76th overall, of the MLS SuperDraft by Seattle Sounders FC on Tuesday.
ODUSports.com had the opportunity to talk with Nelson prior to his departure for the west coast.
Q: How did you find out you had been drafted?
A: I was at my house and I was just waiting to see how the draft would go. I didn’t know if I was going to get drafted for sure, but I had some good vibes. My laptop wasn’t working and I couldn’t refresh the DraftTracker page, so I thought this is just bad luck. I waited about 20 minutes and refreshed it again, and it just happened to be right at the time my name popped up. It was a surreal feeling. I didn’t know how to deal with it at first. I was pretty much in shock. The first congratulations text is what made it real for me. I had all kinds of excitement. I was jumping and running around my house. It was just pure joy.
Q: When do you move to Seattle and when do you start with the team?
A: I leave for Seattle tomorrow [Thursday] morning. I have a flight bright and early. I talked to some representatives from Seattle after the draft and camp begins on Saturday. So, I will be in Seattle for five days and then we move down to Arizona for 10 days after that for more training.
Q: Have you ever been to Seattle?
A: No, I have never been there. I’ve very rarely been west. I’ve been to Portland once and I’ve been to Arizona before. I’m from Austin, Texas, and, from what I hear, Austin and Seattle are pretty similar. Seattle is just a little bigger. So, hopefully it feels like home.
Q: Has playing in the MLS always been a dream for you?
A: Yeah, absolutely. This has been a dream of mine since I was little kid. I always told my parents that I wanted to play professional soccer. The fact that I have my foot in the door, it’s a great moment. I don’t want to say it’s a dream come true, because the hard work is just starting. This is just an opportunity right now. Now, I really have to go and make something happen out of this.
Q: How excited are you to play for a great club like Seattle?
A: I’m very excited. They are one of the most respected franchises in the league. They have a very good organization and very good ownership. They’re a great team with great players. Seattle Sounders 2, their USL team, allows younger players to develop and have a chance to play. There’s a lot of competition for the first team. When you have stars like Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins and Brad Evans, it’s tough for a young player to come right in and play. So, Sounders 2 allows the younger players to develop and become involved with the franchise.
Q: How have your coaches, teammates and family helped you reach this point?
A: I cannot thank the coaching staff enough. They gave me the chance to play here and I wouldn’t be here without them. My teammates, I wouldn’t be here without them. They’ve made me a better player and a better person throughout my three years. I cannot thank these guys enough. When Sidney [Rivera] was drafted last year, he thanked the guys a lot and now I get what he was saying. Your teammates make you a better player. You put in the work individually, but you can’t do it without them. Those guys are my supporting cast and I thank them. I have to thank my mom, dad and brother, Wes. I couldn’t have done this without them and their support. All of my past and previous coaches, as well, deserve a lot of credit. I would not be where I am today without them and their guidance.