Furman’s Zimmerman Poised To Take ‘Next Step’

Leaving school early for a professional soccer career worked out well for Clint Dempsey and for Ricardo Clark. Walker Zimmerman hopes it will work out for him as well.

All indications are that Zimmerman, a sophomore from Georgia, has a bright future as a pro. He recently signed a Generation adidas contract, which means that the team that takes him in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft will not have to count his salary against the club salary cap.

The 19-year old central defender, who played high school soccer at Brookwood HS in Gwinnett County outside of Atlanta, appeared in 17 matches during the 2012 season, helping the Paladans to a 12-4-3 record. He missed two matches while playing for the U.S. Under-20 National Team in Spain.

He is expected to be a top three pick in the 2013 MLS draft, which will be held during the January NSCAA Convention in Indianapolis.

Zimmerman, who earned Division I All-America honors as a sophomore, was one of the first players to be offered a Generation adidas deal, and one of the first to sign.

He and Louisville’s Andrew Farrell are expected to be the top two center backs on the draft board. Farrell has also signed a Generation Adidas contract. Others include Texas-based youth striker Kekulta Manneh and Virginia Commonwealth forward J.J Johnson.

North Carolina midfielder Mikey Lopez and Central Florida forward Deshorn Brown have also signed. Maryland forward Patrick Mullins, the 2012 Hermann Trophy winner, was offered a contract, but has said that he will not sign and will return next fall to the Terrapins.

Zimmerman is the second Brookwood grad to sign a Generation Adidas deal. The first was UCF goalkeeper Sean Johnson in 2010.