FC Dallas Picks up Two Players in 2013 MLS SuperDraft
January 17, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release
FC Dallas picks up two players in 2013 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- (Thursday, Jan. 17, 2012) - FC Dallas selected center back Walker Zimmerman (seventh overall) and midfielder Ryan Hollingshead (20th overall) in the 2013 Major League Soccer SuperDraft presented by adidas.
"That was really too good to be true," said FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman on Zimmerman's selection. "He's an outstandping player. He's young. He does so many good things as a center back. He's only getting better with the U.S. U-20's. We thought he'd go number one or number two in the draft. We had worked trying to move up in the draft to get him, and when he fell to us that was like it was meant to be, so we're really excited. He's a good player, very talented, great upside and a wonderful person."
Zimmerman signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer prior to the SuperDraft and has been automatically added to the FC Dallas roster.
A Georgia native, Zimmerman played two seasons for Furman University where he scored 11 goals and tallied five assists in 39 games. A two-time NSCAA All-American and two-time all-conference performer, the young defender was ranked tops among center backs available in the 2013 SuperDraft by MLSSoccer.com.
"I just want to get to Dallas and work hard and learn from my veteran teammates," said Zimmerman. "I'm going to try and make Dallas home and do my best to get on the field and to play well and do all I can. This is the day (my family and I) have all been looking forward to for quite some time. It's a dream. It really is. I know everyone always says it's a dream come true, but it really is. So, I'm definitely excited to have ended my youth career and take my talents to FC Dallas and start a pro career."
Zimmerman has played with both the U.S. U-18 and U-20 National Teams, most recently appearing with the U-20 side at the MILK Cup in Ireland. In 2010, he helped his Georgia ODP squad to a 2010 US Youth Soccer ODP National title and Region III title.
Hollingshead, a 6'1" midfielder from UCLA, was a second-team NSCAA All-America selection following the 2012 season after tallying seven goals and eight assists for the Bruins. He was named the Pac-12 Men's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year. In four seasons with the Bruins, Hollingshead tallied 16 goals and 21 assists. As a prep athlete with Granite Bay High School, Hollingshead broke his school's single-season assist record.
"Ryan is another really, really good human being," said Hyndman. "We've seen him for a couple of years and we like him a lot. He's a very good attacking player. He's helped UCLA quite a bit."
FC Dallas 2013 SuperDraft Selections:
Walker Zimmerman
1st Round, 7th Overall
DOB: May 19, 1993
HT: 6'3"
WT: 185
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Ga.
Position: Defender
College: Furman
Twitter: @thewalkerzim
Ryan Hollingshead
2nd Round, 20th Overall
DOB: April 16, 1991
HT: 6'1"
WT: 180
Hometown: Granite Bay, Calif.
Position: Midfielder
College: UCLA
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