
Sporting KC Selects Two Seniors in MLS SuperDraft
January 21, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City selected a pair of 22-year-old college seniors in MLS SuperDraft 2021 presented by adidas on Thursday, taking center back Matt Constant from the University of North Carolina and winger Jamil Roberts from Marshall University.
A native of Dallas, Constant spent his first two collegiate seasons at the University of New Mexico, where he started 38 matches for the Lobos from 2016-2017 and helped the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance as a freshman.
Upon transferring to North Carolina, the 6-foot-6 center back started 11 of 12 appearances as a junior in 2019. During a shortened season last fall, Constant started in all seven matches and scored a game-winning goal against archrival Duke on Oct. 2 as North Carolina posted five shutouts in their seven games.
At the youth level, Constant played seven seasons with the Dallas Texans of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. In his final year with the Texans, he earned 2014-15 Winter Showcase Best XI and Central Conference Best XI honors. On the international stage, Constant was part of the United States U-17 Residency program in Bradenton, Florida, in 2015 before representing the Canada U-20s in 2016 and 2017.
Roberts, a native of Langport, England and a product of Plymouth Argyle FC's academy, played collegiately at Marshall University in West Virginia. The 22-year-old recorded 14 goals and 15 assists in three seasons from 2017-2019, making 18 appearances each season.
As a junior in 2019, Roberts led the Thundering Herd to the team's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance with a 16-3-3 record after winning the Conference USA regular season and tournament championships. His 10 assists in 2019 tied the school's single-season record en route to earning All-Conference USA Second Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region First Team honors.
Most recently, Roberts participated in the 2020 College Invitational Combine hosted by Sporting Kansas City in November after Conference USA's 2020 season was postponed due to COVID-19. Roberts was coached by Sporting Kansas City II manager Paulo Nagamura at the Combine as a member of Team Gansler along with Sporting KC II forward Preston Judd.
VITALS
Matt Constant
Position: Defender
Born: 8/17/1998 (22 years old)
Height: 6-6
Weight: 190 lbs.
College: University of North Carolina
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Twitter: @m_constant5
Instagram: @m_constant5
VITALS
Jamil Roberts
Position: Forward
Born: 6/14/1998 (22 years old)
Height: 5-9
Weight: 170 lbs.
College: Marshall University
Hometown: Langport, England
Twitter: @JamilRoberts
Instagram: @jamil_roberts
Major League Soccer Stories from January 21, 2021
- Austin FC Selects Daniel Pereira, Freddy Kleeman, Aedan Stanley, Daniel Steedman and Noah Lawrence in 2021 MLS SuperDraft Presented by adidas - Austin FC
- Inter Miami CF Receives 2022 SuperDraft Second Round Pick from Seattle Sounders FC - Inter Miami CF
- Recapping the Rapids 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Colorado Rapids
- Sounders FC Trades for One, Drafts Another in 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Seattle Sounders FC
- Columbus Crew SC Selects Two Players in Major League Soccer SuperDraft 2021 - Columbus Crew SC
- Houston Dynamo Select Three Players in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Houston Dynamo FC
- Whitecaps FC Select Four Players in 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- CF Montreal Selects Giuseppe Barone at the MLS SuperDraft - Club de Foot Montreal
- FC Dallas Selects Five Players in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft - FC Dallas
- Toronto FC Select Di Rosa, Crofts, Rothrock and Maples in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Toronto FC
- LAFC Selects Three Players in MLS SuperDraft 2021 Presented by Adidas - Los Angeles FC
- Nashville SC Selects Five Players in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, Presented by Adidas, from Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville - Nashville SC
- Earthquakes Select Cal Forward Thomas Williamson in First Round of 2021 MLS SuperDraft - San Jose Earthquakes
- New England Revolution Make Two Selections in 2021 MLS SuperDraft - New England Revolution
- Chicago Fire FC Selects Three Players in 2021 MLS SuperDraft Presented by Adidas - Chicago Fire FC
- Atlanta United Selects Josh Bauer and Aiden McFadden in 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Atlanta United FC
- Austin FC Uses Club's First No. 1 Pick to Select Daniel Pereira of Virginia Tech Univ. in MLS SuperDraft '21 Presented by adidas - MLS
- Timbers Select Two Players in Final Two Rounds of 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Portland Timbers
- Philip Mayaka's Soccer Journey from Kenya to MLS - Colorado Rapids
- Minnesota United Select Justin McMaster, Nabilai Kibunguchy and Sean O'Hearn in 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Minnesota United FC
- Sporting KC Selects Two Seniors in MLS SuperDraft - Sporting Kansas City
- Inter Miami CF Selects Penn, Mabika and Hafferty in 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Inter Miami CF
- Real Salt Lake Selects Defender Bret Halsey to Highlight 2021 MLS SuperDraft Class - Real Salt Lake
- FC Cincinnati Add Four Players in 2021 MLS SuperDraft, Select Calvin Harris with Second Overall Pick - FC Cincinnati
- Orlando City Selects Forward Derek Dodson in 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Orlando City SC
- New York Red Bulls Select Three in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft - New York Red Bulls
- LAFC Acquires MLS Homegrown Rights to Goalkeeper Tomas Romero - Los Angeles FC
- D.C. United Select Defender Logan Panchot with 32nd Pick at 2021 MLS SuperDraft Presented by adidas - D.C. United
- D.C. United Select Defender Logan Panchot with 32nd Pick at 2021 MLS SuperDraft Presented by adidas - D.C. United
- Philadelphia Union Acquire $50,000 in Allocation Money from LAFC - Philadelphia Union
- Austin FC Acquires 21st Pick in SuperDraft - Austin FC
- D.C. United Select Defender Michael DeShields with Fifth Pick at 2021 MLS SuperDraft Presented by Adidas - D.C. United
- D.C. United Select Defender Kimarni Smith with Fourth Pick at 2021 MLS SuperDraft Presented by Adidas - D.C. United
- D.C. United Acquire the 5th Pick in the MLS SuperDraft from Atlanta United - D.C. United
- Atlanta United Acquires $125,000 in General Allocation Money from D.C. United - Atlanta United FC
- Austin FC Selects Midfielder Daniel Pereira with # 1 Pick of 2021 MLS SuperDraft Presented by adidas - Austin FC
- Nashville SC Sends Derrick Jones to Houston Dynamo FC - Nashville SC
- Houston Dynamo FC Acquires MF Derrick Jones from Nashville SC and Swaps First Round Draft Picks with Colorado Rapids - Houston Dynamo FC
- Orlando City Acquires No. 8 Selection in 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Orlando City SC
- Timbers Acquire $100,000 in General Allocation Money from Orlando City SC in Exchange for Eighth Overall Pick in 2021 MLS SuperDraft - Portland Timbers
- Sounders FC Completes Transfer of Midfielder Joao Paulo from Botafogo - Seattle Sounders FC
- How the 2021 MLS SuperDraft Works - Nashville SC
- A Note from Commissioner Don Garber - MLS
- 2021 MLS SuperDraft Takes Place Today - San Jose Earthquakes
- Nashville SC Trades International Spot, Exchanges SuperDraft Picks with Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Nashville SC
- Whitecaps FC Acquire 2021 International Slot from Nashville SC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Sporting Kansas City Stories
- Sporting KC Visits LAFC on Sunday
- Sporting KC Weekly
- Sporting KC Wins, 3-1, in Houston
- Sporting KC Visits Houston Dynamo on Saturday
- Sporting KC Weekly

