photo credit: Rebecca Harper / SMC Athletics

2024 MLR College Draft Summary

The fifth edition of Major League Rugby’s College Draft is now complete. A total of 36 players were selected across three rounds with all 12 teams from the 2024 season participating. As widely expected, the first overall selection by Anthem was US Eagles training squad member Erich Storti.

Leading the way in numbers called this year was Saint Mary’s College, the Gaels contributing six players including the first overall selection. Life University and Lindenwood University had three players each chosen. Players came from 23 different schools, including three from Canada.

A third of the three-dozen chosen had international age grade selection on their resume, with a 16 players earning Collegiate All-American honors. The rough positional breakdown is as follows:

Prop 5
Hooker 2
Second Row 2
Back Row 9
Scrumhalf 3
Flyhalf / Fullback 4
Center 8
Wing 3

Seattle selected two of the Canadians, with dual-eligible Neil Trainor going to Anthem. Aidan Ridgway and Sebastian Schefermann are working towards US-eligibility under the revised residency regulation. Both were selected by Old Glory, who also chose Zimbabwe Sables training squad member Aaron Juma.

 

 

ROUND 1

 

 

#1

Erich Storti
Anthem RC
School Saint Mary’s College
Home Town Concord, California
Eligibility USA
Position Center / Fullback
Age 23
Height 6′ (1.83m)
Weight 200lbs (90kg)

2020 USA u20
2022 CRAA All-American (2nd team)
2023 USA Eagles (training squad)
2024 CRAA All-American (1st team)
2024 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
2024 USA Eagles (training squad)

 

 

#2

Neil Trainor
Anthem RC
School Queen’s University
Home Town Columbia, Maryland
Eligibility USA / Canada
Position Hooker
Age 23
Height 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight 230lbs (105kg)

2024 Rugby Canada Pacific Pride

Highlight Video

 

 

#3

Calvin Ihrig
Miami Sharks
School Lindenwood University
Home Town Chicago, Illinois
Eligibility USA / Germany
Position Flanker
Age 23
Height 6’4″ (1.93m)
Weight 220lbs (100kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#4

Kaipono Kayoshi
New England Free Jacks
School Saint Mary’s College
Home Town San Francisco, California
Eligibility USA
Position Back Row
Age 24
Height 6’2″ (1.87m)
Weight 215lbs (98kg)

2018 USA u18
2020 USA u20
2022 CRAA All-American (1st team)
2023 CRAA All-American (1st team)
2024 CRAA All-American (1st team)

 

 

#5

Jeron Pantor
Anthem RC
School Life University
Home Town San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago
Eligibility USA / Trinidad & Tobago
Position Flyhalf / Fullback
Age 25
Height 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight 185lbs (85kg)

2024 CRAA All-American (3rd team)

Highlight Video

 

 

#6

Aidan King
NOLA Gold
School Pennsylvania State University
Home Town Anchorage, Alaska
Eligibility USA / Australia
Position Flanker
Age 22
Height 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight 220lbs (100kg)

2022 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee

Highlight Video

 

 

#7

Inoke Waqavesi
San Diego Legion
School Saint Mary’s College
Home Town Sacramento, California
Eligibility USA / Fiji / Tonga
Position Flyhalf
Age 24
Height 5’8″ (1.73m)
Weight 185lbs (85kg)

2018 USA Youth Olympic 7s
2022 CRAA All-American (2nd team)
2024 CRAA All-American (2nd team)

 

 

#8

Alex Aguero
Houston SaberCats
School University of California, Berkeley
Home Town Corte Madera, California
Eligibility USA
Position Back Row
Age 23
Height 6′ (1.83m)
Weight 210lbs (95kg)

2024 CRAA All-American (2nd team)

Highlight Video

 

 

#9

Darius Law
Dallas Jackals
School Life University
Home Town Charlotte, North Carolina
Eligibility USA
Position Center
Age 22
Height 5’11” (1.80m)
Weight 200lbs (91kg)

2019 USA u18
2022 CRAA All-American (1st team)
2023 USA u23 7s
2024 CRAA All-American (2nd team)
2024 USA u23 7s

Highlight Video

 

 

#10

Peyton Wall
Chicago Hounds
School Indiana University
Home Town Leo-Cedarville, Indiana
Eligibility USA
Position Center
Age 23
Height 6′ (1.83m)
Weight 210lbs (95kg)

2018 USA u18
2019 USA u18
2023 NCR D1 All-American
2023 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
2023 USA u23 7s
2024 NCR D1 All-American
2024 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
2024 USA u23 7s

Highlight Video

 

 

#11

Calvin Liulamaga
Seattle Seawolves
School Central Washington University
Home Town Auburn, Washington
Eligibility USA
Position Center
Age 23
Height 6′ (1.84m)
Weight 220lbs (100kg)

2023 CRAA All-American (1st team)
2024 CRAA All-American (2nd team)
2024 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee

 

 

#12

Raymond Santiago
Old Glory DC
School Rensselaer Polytechnic Insitute
Home Town Freehold, New Jersey
Eligibility USA
Position Lock / Back Row
Age 21
Height 6’5″ (1.95m)
Weight 250lbs (113kg)

2024 NCR D2 All-American

Highlight Video

 

 

 

ROUND 2

 

 

#13

EJ Freeman
Anthem RC
School University of Arizona
Home Town Marietta, Georgia
Eligibility USA
Position Center
Age 22
Height 6′ (1.83m)
Weight 215lbs (98kg)

2019 Germany u17
2020 USA u18
2022 USA u20
2023 CRAA D1A All-American (1st team)
2023 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
2023 USA u23 7s
2023 USA Falcons 7s
2024 CRAA D1A All-American (1st team)
2024 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee

Highlight Video

 

 

#14

Matthew Carrion
New England Free Jacks
School Life University
Home Town Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Eligibility USA
Position Back Row
Age 23
Height 6’2″ (1.87m)
Weight 225lbs (103kg)

2019 USA u18

Highlight Video

 

 

#15

Aidan Ridgway
Old Glory DC
School Arkansas State University
Home Town Johannesburg, South Africa
Eligibility South Africa
Position Scrumhalf / Flyhalf
Age 23
Height 5’11” (1.80m)
Weight 185lbs (84kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#16

Tielu Sagala
Utah Warriors
School Brigham Young University
Home Town Herriman, Utah
Eligibility USA
Position Wing
Age 23
Height 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight 215lbs (97kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#17

Aaron Juma
Old Glory DC
School Wheeling University
Home Town Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Eligibility Zimbabwe
Position Back Row
Age 23
Height 6’1″ (1.85m)
Weight 230lbs (104kg)

2021 Zimbabwe u20
2022 Zimbabwe Sables (training squad)
2023 NCR D1 All-American
2023 Zimbabwe Sables (training squad)
2024 NCR D1 All-American

Highlight Video

 

 

#18

Dalton Musselman
NOLA Gold
School Pennsylvania State University
Home Town Coatesville, Pennslvania
Eligibility USA
Position Flyhalf
Age 23
Height 5’11” (1.80m)
Weight 195lbs (89kg)

2022 Rudy Scholz Award Nominee
2023 USA u23 7s
2024 USA Falcons 7s

 

 

#19

Hunter Chuhlantseff
San Diego Legion
School Saint Mary’s College
Home Town Fresno, California
Eligibility USA
Position Loosehead Prop
Age 23
Height 5’9″ (1.76m)
Weight 230lbs (105kg)

2022 CRAA All-American (2nd team)
2024 CRAA All-American (3rd team)

 

 

#20

Jake Negrete
Houston SaberCats
School Saint Mary’s College
Home Town Fresno, California
Eligibility USA
Position Wing
Age 23
Height 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight 195lbs (88kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#21

Joshua Schwartz
Seattle Seawolves
School Queens University of Charlotte
Home Town Wellington, Florida
Eligibility USA
Position Hooker
Age 22
Height 5’9″ (1.75m)
Weight 235lbs (107kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#22

Jake Kinneeveauk
Chicago Hounds
School University of Utah
Home Town Anchorage, Alaska
Eligibility USA
Position Number Eight
Age 22
Height 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight 245lbs (112kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#23

Connor Williams
Seattle Seawolves
School University of Ottawa
Home Town Ottawa, Ontario
Eligibility Canada
Position Tighthead Prop
Age 25
Height 6′ (1.83m)
Weight 270lbs (122kg)

2024 Rugby Canada Pacific Pride

Highlight Video

 

 

#24

Le’Donn Mathis
Anthem RC
School Lindenwood University
Home Town Cincinnati, Ohio
Eligibility USA
Position Lock
Age 23
Height 6’4″ (1.94m)
Weight 255lbs (116kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

 

ROUND 3

 

 

#25

Ashawnty Staples
Anthem RC
School Notre Dame College
Home Town Toledo, Ohio
Position Wing
Age 23
Height 5’10” (1.78m)
Weight 170lbs (78kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#26

Patrick Beattie
RFC Los Angeles
School California State University, Long Beach
Home Town Santa Monica, California
Eligibility USA / England / New Zealand
Position Tighthead Prop
Age 23
Height 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight 285lbs (130kg)

2024 CRAA All-American (3rd team)

Highlight Video

 

 

#27

Lautaro Ansay
Miami Sharks
School Lindenwood University
Home Town Philaldephia, Pennsylvania
Eligibility USA / Argentina
Position Center
Age 22
Height 6′ (1.82m)
Weight 190lbs (87kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#28

Cole Semu
Utah Warriors
School Brigham Young University
Home Town Auckland, New Zealand
Eligibility USA / New Zealand
Position Center
Age 24
Height 5’10” (1.77m)
Weight 210lbs (96kg)

2018 USA u18
2019 USA u20
2022 CRAA All-American (3rd team)
2022 USA u23
2023 CRAA All-American (1st team)
2024 CRAA All-American (2nd team)

Highlight Video

 

 

#29

Sebastian Schefermann
Old Glory DC
School University of Mary Washington
Home Town Durban, South Africa
Eligibility South Africa
Position Center / Fullback
Age 21
Height 6’4″ (1.93m)
Weight 215lbs (98kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#30

Nick Andiarena
Utah Warriors
School Adrian College
Home Town Layton, Utah
Position Flanker
Age 23
Height 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight 235lbs (106kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#31

Danny Bray
San Diego Legion
School University of California, Santa Barbara
Home Town Danville, California
Position Loosehead Prop / Hooker
Age 21
Height 6’2″ (1.88m)
Weight 250lbs (113kg)

2022 CRAA All-American (3rd team)
2022 USA u20

Highlight Video

 

 

#32

Caleb Tomasin
RFC Los Angeles
School University of California, Berkeley
Home Town Pismo Beach, California
Eligibility USA
Position Scrumhalf
Age 22
Height 5’6″ (1.68m)
Weight 175lbs (80kg)

 

 

#33

Lleyton Delzell
RFC Los Angeles
School Saint Mary’s College
Home Town Rohnert Park, California
Eligibility USA
Position Flanker
Age 23
Height 6’2″ (1.89m)
Weight 220lbs (100kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#34

Alex Hernandez
Chicago Hounds
School Marian University
Home Town Indianapolis, Indiana
Eligibility USA / Mexico
Position Prop
Age 22
Height 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight 275lbs (125kg)

Highlight Video

 

 

#35

Jamie Armstrong
Seattle Seawolves
School University of Ottawa
Home Town Ottawa, Ontario
Eligibility Canada
Position Flyhalf / Fullback
Age 22
Height 6’3″ (1.90m)
Weight 200lbs (90kg)

2023 Canada u23 7s
2024 Rugby Canada Pacific Pride

Highlight Video

 

 

#36

Emanuel Lai
New England Free Jacks
School Santa Clara University
Home Town Old Greenwich, Connecticut
Eligibility USA / China
Position Scrumhalf
Age 22
Height 5’9″ (1.74m)
Weight 170lbs (78kg)

2024 CRAA All-American (3rd team)

Highlight Video

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