After Seattle Sounders academy standout and Stanford University sophomore Jordan Morris made the US Men’s National Team roster for its Sept. 3 friendly against the Czech Republic, speculation arose that his accelerated development could mean he has the option to skip a stint with the Sounders' first team and shoot overseas right away.
As it turns out, Sounders fans may get to see Morris in a Seattle uniform after all.
In an interview on Tuesday night’s episode of Seattle Soccer Talk on SportsRadio KJR, Seattle Sporting Director Chris Henderson said it’s at least possible that Morris could be suiting up for the Sounders in the not-so-distant future.
“I expect to see him in a Sounders uniform pretty soon,” Henderson said. “But we’ll see how that plays out. We’re excited that he’s one of our players and that he’s done so well.”
Morris achieved the rare distinction of making a national team roster while still in college. Although he didn’t see the field in the USMNT’s 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic, his presence on the roster was evidence of a raw talent level advanced beyond his years.
So, what makes Morris such an intriguing prospect? In a scouting report given to reporters shortly after the young forward’s USMNT selection, Seattle head coach Sigi Schmid said Morris’ greatest assets are his aggressive playing style and versatility.
“He’s a slasher. He’s a player that can play wide, he can play up top, he can play as one of the two strikers in a two-man formation,” Schmid said. “He’s comfortable on both sides of the field and keeps pressure on defenses because he’s willing to make those runs in behind…He’ll go at you. He’s not a passive player on the field.”
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Henderson compared Morris’ path to that of DeAndre Yedlin, another Sounders academy product who has already played in a World Cup and earned a transfer to English Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur at the tender age of 21.
“It’s a little bit like DeAndre’s story where things have come really fast for him from a couple years ago being an academy player for the Sounders,” Henderson said. “I think there’s more of that to come.”
