Jaylen Yearwood Selected 14th Overall By Orlando City SC In 2026 MLS SuperDraft
12/18/2025 5:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. - North Florida Men's Soccer senior defender Jaylen Yearwood was selected with the 14th overall pick in the First Round by Orlando City SC in the 2026 MLS Draft on Thursday.
Yearwood becomes the highest MLS draft pick in North Florida Men's Soccer program history and the first-ever First Round pick with his selection to Orlando City SC. He is the second Osprey to be drafted in the MLS SuperDraft following in the footsteps of Alex Morrell, who was selected 22nd overall pick of the Second Round by Chicago Fire FC in the 2016 MLS Draft.
In 2025, Yearwood became the first North Florida player to land ASUN Defensive Player of the Year honors since Jay Bolt in 2016. He also picked up 2025 First Team All-ASUN, 2025 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Atlantic Region, 20215 Academic All-ASUN and 2025 CSC Academic All-District distinction.
The Conyers, Ga., native started the year as an 2025 Preseason All-ASUN selection and continued his collegiate success being ranked No. 70 in the Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Top 100 players list. He finished his senior season by leading the Ospreys to back-to-back ASUN Regular Season and ASUN Championship titles, in addition to back-to-back NCAA Championship appearances.
Yearwood started all 18 matches and posted a conference-high six assists and a goal for eight points, in addition to 19 shots and a game-winner in 1,429 minutes played in 2025. His six assists led the team, led the conference and ranked 54th in the nation.
Yearwood recorded three assists in the 5-0 win over No. 19 FAU on Sept. 4 at Hodges Stadium. The three assists in a single match tied a program-record and the most for an Osprey since Morrell recorded three against USC Upstate on Nov. 14, 2015.
Yearwood finished his career starting 48 of 60 games played with 11 assists and a goal scored. He also helped North Florida post single-season program records for both wins (12) and shutouts (nine) in 2025.
Yearwood becomes the highest MLS draft pick in North Florida Men's Soccer program history and the first-ever First Round pick with his selection to Orlando City SC. He is the second Osprey to be drafted in the MLS SuperDraft following in the footsteps of Alex Morrell, who was selected 22nd overall pick of the Second Round by Chicago Fire FC in the 2016 MLS Draft.
In 2025, Yearwood became the first North Florida player to land ASUN Defensive Player of the Year honors since Jay Bolt in 2016. He also picked up 2025 First Team All-ASUN, 2025 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Atlantic Region, 20215 Academic All-ASUN and 2025 CSC Academic All-District distinction.
The Conyers, Ga., native started the year as an 2025 Preseason All-ASUN selection and continued his collegiate success being ranked No. 70 in the Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Top 100 players list. He finished his senior season by leading the Ospreys to back-to-back ASUN Regular Season and ASUN Championship titles, in addition to back-to-back NCAA Championship appearances.
Yearwood started all 18 matches and posted a conference-high six assists and a goal for eight points, in addition to 19 shots and a game-winner in 1,429 minutes played in 2025. His six assists led the team, led the conference and ranked 54th in the nation.
Yearwood recorded three assists in the 5-0 win over No. 19 FAU on Sept. 4 at Hodges Stadium. The three assists in a single match tied a program-record and the most for an Osprey since Morrell recorded three against USC Upstate on Nov. 14, 2015.
Yearwood finished his career starting 48 of 60 games played with 11 assists and a goal scored. He also helped North Florida post single-season program records for both wins (12) and shutouts (nine) in 2025.
Players Mentioned
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