YEAR IN REVIEW: Tyler Adams

Graduate from high school, play a nearly full season in MLS and get a call up to the United States Men’s National Team. 2017 was, without a doubt, a year to remember for 18-year-old Tyler Adams.

After getting his first start of the year on March 25 against Real Salt Lake, the Wappingers Falls native began to assert himself as a vital part of the Red Bulls lineup. Adams featured in 24 games this season for the team, 22 of which were starts.

Additionally, Adams netted two goals and earned four assists in the 2017 MLS regular season. In the Red Bulls playoff run, Adams went the distance in each of the team’s three matches, earning one assist in the process.

Throughout the season, Adams proved to be quite the versatile youngster, being slotted in different positions throughout the season by head coach Jesse Marsch. While in the midfield, however, Adams hit his stride in the eyes of his coach.

“I think in the end his best position is in the middle of the field,” Marsch stated in a recent interview. “I literally could envision him playing in any of the 10 spots. Maybe not goalkeeper. I do think, in the end, his best position will be middle of the field.”

Along with Marsch, striker Bradley Wright-Phillips echoed a similar message, stating that Adams’ development this season, and recent international call up, is a success.

“If you look at the beginning of the season, losing Dax [McCarty], everyone thought it’d be way worse,” Wright-Phillips stated. “We actually had a good season, Tyler [Adams] is going for the U.S. National Team. It’s been a success.”

On November 14, Adams will feature in the USMNT roster for their friendly against reigning UEFA Euro Cup champions, Portugal. This is the first call up for Adams, who is No. 10 in MLS’s 2017 Edition of 24 Under 24, a series that highlights the best 24 MLS players under the age of 24.

“I think all of us in this club will be looking towards this Portugal game,” Marsch stated. “I’m not sure if he’ll start, I hope that he will and when he gets on the field, I’m excited for his next step.”

After his development and quality play down the stretch of the MLS schedule, earning seven of his eight points in three of the final five regular-season matches, Adams is poised to take yet another step in the right direction.

“If you talk to Tyler I think he’d say all the right things,” Marsch iterated in his end-of-the-season interviews. “He’s an ambitious kid, and he should be.”