The San Jose Earthquakes added three up and coming players to their roster today, signing 2009 second-round draft pick Brad Ring and 2010 draft picks Justin Morrow and Steven Beitashour. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Ring, 22, was drafted in the second round by the Quakes in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, but sat out the entire 2009 campaign with a hip injury. He trained with the Quakes last fall and joined the team in preseason this year. He attended Indiana University, where he played 78 games, scored 14 goals and had eight assists in his college career helped lead the Indiana Hoosiers to NCAA Tournament berths in all four seasons. A first-team All-Big Ten honoree, the Rockford, Ill. native was also an NSCAA All-American Third Team selection and a NSCAA Scholar All-American in 2008. In 2006 and 2007, he was named to the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region First Team. He was also a two-year MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2007 and 2008, and a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten pick in 2007.
Morrow had an outstanding combine prior to the draft after an excellent career with Notre Dame. He played 89 matches and scored seven goals and notched seven assists as a wide midfielder and defender. He was named All-Big East Second Team in 2009 after starting all 23 games and notching two goals and an assist, while serving as team captain. He helped the Fighting Irish to four NCAA appearances in his career. Morrow played his high school soccer at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and scored 21 goals while adding 14 assists as a senior. In 2004 and 2005, he played for the Super Y League ODP national team.
Beitashour returns to his hometown team after completing his career with San Diego State University. The 5-10 defender appeared in 57 career games for the Aztecs and recorded eight assists, including three in his 2009 campaign. A versatile player, he can play wide right and left in both the defense and midfield. Beitashour was a four-year letterwinner for Leland High School in San Jose, where he won the Pat Tillman Award.
Brad Ring #5
Status: Developmental
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Born: April 7, 1987
Hometown: Rockford, Ill.
College: Indiana
Citizenship: USA
Justin Morrow #15
Status: Developmental
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Born: October 4, 1987
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
College: Notre Dame
Citizenship: USA
Steven Beitashour #33
Pronunciation: BAY-ta-shore
Status: Developmental
Position: Defender
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Born: February 1, 1987
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.
College: San Diego State
Citizenship: USA
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): Earthquakes sign M Brad Ring, D Justin Morrow and D Steven Beitashour to developmental contracts.
