Where Are they Now? … Knox Cameron

Did a serious knee injury rob Cameron of MLS-level speed?

While we’re on the subject of Devin Barclay-era U.S. youth internationals—that old chestnut—check out this article from the Nov. 11, 2002, New York Times:

Cameron Is One to Watch At Qualifying Event

Of the former U of Michigan and Columbus Crew striker, Bell writes “…there is little doubt he is a finisher – the personification of a scorer in soccer. … At 6 feet 3, 210 pounds, Cameron, who can play midfield or striker, is one of the team’s strongest players and clearly has the speed and size to play professionally.”

A serious knee injury in his senior year in Ann Arbor 86’d Cameron’s MLS draft stock, and the crew nabbed him in the fourth round of the 2005 SuperDraft. He played 30 games for Columbus, scoring four goals. He’s currently 26, like Barclay, and toiling with the Michigan Bucks of the USL Premier Development League.

Remember Devin Barclay?

No? He played parts of five seasons in MLS (with Tampa Bay, San Jose, DC, and Columbus) and was also a member of the 2002 U.S. U-20 team that included Santino Quaranta, Bobby Convey, and Eddie Johnson. After his soccer career faded in Columbus in 2005, he took up place-kicking and walked on at Ohio State in 2007, making the team as the second-string kicker. He’s currently the starter, and a 26-year-old junior with two years of eligibility remaining. Last Saturday he booted the Buckeyes into their first Rose Bowl appearance in 13 years, nailing a 39-yarder in overtime against Iowa. Check it out:

Tony Meola is jealous.