NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion head men's soccer coach Tennant McVea announced a six-person early signing class on Tuesday. McVea takes over from long-time head coach Alan Dawson who retired at the end of the 2023 season.
"We have spent a lot of time nurturing personal relationships with this incoming group. The staff placed a huge emphasis on the intangible characteristics of the players. We want to surround ourselves with young men who exhibit the values we want to put out as a program," said McVea.
"All of them are extremely talented players but, more importantly, they are good people. Our job as coaches is to set high standards for them as they transition into the college environment and nurture their development on and off the field. With this group we have a fantastic starting point."
Jett Atkan
Defender/Midfielder
Wayne, New Jersey
TSF Academy
MCVEA ON ATKAN: Jett comes to us from the TSF Academy out of New Jersey. He is a double footed central defender or midfielder who is extremely comfortable on the ball. Jett impressed the staff with his range of passing and defending capabilities. He has a fantastic work ethic and is a great teammate. We are excited to see his growth here in the program over the few years.
Nic Beil
Forward/Midfielder
Waldorf, Maryland
Alexandria SC
MCVEA ON BEIL: Nic is the younger brother of current player Peter Beil. What impressed us initially for such a big guy was how much quality he had with his feet. Nic can glide past players when he gets his legs open but is also capable of getting out of tight situations with his footwork. Every time we see him, he keeps growing. He has a great balance of physical, technical, and tactical tools to help him become an impact college player and we look forward to seeing him continue to mature here.
Adrian Buri
Forward
Leesburg, Virginia
DC United
MCVEA ON BURI: Adrian is a talented attacking player who can play in any of the front three positions. He is dynamic and loves being on the ball. His personality off the field is infectious. He loves talking about the game as much as he loves playing it. Adrian will add quality in the forward positions and will be a presence in the locker room. A Virginia native built in the DC United academy system, Adrian is a high caliber athlete who can be a very impactful college player.
Jordan Rodgers
Defender
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Midwest United
MCVEA ON RODGERS: Jordan comes to us from Midwest United FC out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. I was fortunate enough to work firsthand with Jordan in Michigan last summer and was immediately blown away with his attitude. A right sided defender who is tough in the tackle and has a fantastic engine. Jordan comes from a program who demand high levels of technical and tactical ability as well as a lot of mental strength. Jordan has a high ceiling because he genuinely wants to improve day in day out. He is the type of kid that any staff would love to work with.
Connor Thomas
Defender
Fort Myers, Florida
Florida West
MCVEA ON THOMAS: Connor comes to us from Florida West out of Fort Myers. He has also spent time in England with Northampton Town U18 squad. He is a tough and tenacious defender who doesn't know when to quit. Connor has a great level of mental toughness and knows what it takes to contribute in high level soccer environments.
Micah Wayland
Forward
Glen Allen, Virginia
Richmond United
MCVEA ON WAYLAND: Micah is a player we have long admired. He has a great presence as a center forward who can play with his back to goal and run the line. He knows where the back of the net is and that is the greatest characteristic a forward can have. His work rate and positive attitude on the field are balanced by a fantastic demeanor off it and I am always impressed with how he carries himself amongst his peers. Coming from the Richmond United Academy we know he understands what it means to work hard.
Men's Soccer Announces Early 2024 Signing Class
