Serna Signed As Homegrown Player, Non-Roster Camp Invites

Today the Rapids signed their thrid homegrown player, Brighton's Dillon Serna.  He joined the Rapids Academy in 2009 and played with the U.S. U-17 and U-20 teams.  He spent this past fall at Akron University, starting regularly as a freshman.  He now leaves college to join the Rapids first team where he can play a number of positions in midfield and defense.  I think Serna will start out as a midfielder but I could see him moving to a wing back position based on need.  More home grown signings are always a good thing.  The only other one that I've heard might be close is James Rogers who's a sophomore at New Mexico, but there's some question if he's a Rapids product or a FSL product as he started in the FSL academy before his parent's move to Denver brought him to the Rapids academy.

Also today Colorado revealed a list of 6 non-rostered players who are trying to make the team in camp as trialists.  top on the list is Jamie Smith, who's option was declined after last season but is still trying to make the roster on a new deal.  I'd like to have Jamie on the team, but given his injury history, at something notably lees than the $150K he was making last year.  Former Dallas homegrown forward Ruben Luna is in camp, along with 2012 supplemental draft pick Joel Helmick, a keeper who lost out on the 3rd string keeper role to Ian Joyce last preseason.  Goalkeepers Jim Mauer and Clint Irwin and defender/midfielder Luke Vercollone round out the list.

So here's the full camp roster, with players noted for their current status.  The only player who isn't expected to be in camp or with a National Team by Monday is Eric Avila.  Rumors are that we've traded his righjts for Nick LaBrocca's rights but there's been no official confirmation.

Goalkeepers:
Steward Ceus
Matt Pickens
Joel Helmick - Unsigned trialist
Clint Irwin - Unsigned trialist
Jim Mauer - Unsigned trialist

Defenders:
Diego Calderon - International
Kory Kindle - Unsigned draftee
Chris Klute (Atlanta loan through late-Sept)
Drew Moor
Anthony Wallace
Marvell Wynne
Luke Vercollone - Unsigned trialist

Midfielders:
Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player
Eric Avila - Unsigned Re-Entry draftee
Tony Cascio
Jaime Castrillon - International
Kevin Harbottle - International
Pablo Mastroeni
Brian Mullan
Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player
Dillon Powers
Martin Rivero (Rosario Central loan through 2013) - International
Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player
Nathan Sturgis
Hendry Thomas - International
Jamie Smith - Unsigned trialist

Forwards:
Andre Akpan
Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International
Edson Buddle
Atiba Harris
Kamani Hill
Ruben Luna - Unsigned trialist