No Combine Invite, No Problem: McKinney Defender Turns College Stardom Into MLS Draft Selection

McKinney Chupacabras FC defender Luke Adams’ soccer journey started the way many do - with a ball at his feet before he even understood the game.

Adams began playing soccer around age 3 or 4, while also trying basketball and flag football as a kid. But while those other sports eventually came and went, soccer stayed.

That early decision has carried the McKinney native from youth fields across North Texas to one of the biggest moments of any American soccer player’s career - hearing his name called in the MLS SuperDraft.

Adams was not invited to the MLS Combine, and like many prospects on draft day, he was unsure what to expect. He watched the 2026 MLS SuperDraft from school alongside friends when everything changed.

A text from Charlotte FC soon followed: Adams had been selected in the second round, 52nd overall.

“I talked to Charlotte, but I didn’t really know what to expect from the draft,” Adams said. “It was kind of a surprise to me when I saw my name up there.”

Before beginning his professional career, Adams is finishing his college journey at Saint Louis University.

The McKinney native transferred to SLU for the 2026 season with one goal in mind - chasing a national championship.

For Adams, the move was about competing at the highest level in his final collegiate season.

“I just wanted to win a national championship in my final year of college soccer,” Adams said. “I thought Saint Louis was the best place to get that done.”

Before arriving at SLU, Adams spent three seasons at Tulsa, where he developed into one of the American Athletic Conference’s top defenders. In 2025, he was named AAC Defender of the Year, anchoring a back line that recorded five shutouts while allowing just 23 goals in 18 matches.

He also scored the first goal of his college career that season - the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over Temple on Oct. 12.

“I learned a lot,” Adams said of his time at Tulsa. “I developed there as a redshirt my freshman year. I ended up getting drafted my junior year.”

Adams’ foundation, however, was built long before college soccer.

He came through several elite North Texas development programs, including FC Dallas Academy, Solar Soccer Club and Texas Spurs. At Texas Spurs, he was coached by Ed Puskarich, now McKinney Chupacabras FC’s sporting director and the Texas Spurs director of coaching.

When the opportunity came to spend his summer with the Chupacabras, Adams’ decision came down to familiarity, culture, and the chance to represent his hometown.

“Both the culture and Frank [Yallop],” Adams said. “[Minority owner] Shawn Culbertson reached out to me in March, and I didn’t really know what I was gonna do for the summer yet. When I saw they were signing good players, I knew the team was gonna be able to compete. I thought it’d be cool to play for my home city.”

Looking back on his first season with McKinney, Adams said the experience has helped prepare him for the next level.

“I’ve learned some things from the other guys on the team and the coaches,” Adams said.

One of the biggest influences has been two-time Major League Soccer Coach of the Year and first-year McKinney head coach Frank Yallop.

“It’s awesome to learn from him. I can just ask him things and get high-level feedback,” Adams said. “It will make you a better player. It’s awesome to have him as a resource.”

After years of developing in some of the top youth, college, and pre-professional environments in the country, Adams now finds himself preparing for the professional game.

His first official step into that world will come when he joins Charlotte FC in January 2027.

Written by Grayson Pitts.

Edited by Elliott Stockdale.