MLS Draft 2018: Orlando City Selects Wisconsin Forward Chris Mueller at No. 6

Orlando City used the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft to select one of the standout players of the recent MLS Combine in forward Chris Mueller out of Wisconsin. Mueller, 21, was the Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2017, an All-Big Ten selection, and a USC Second Team All-American.

Mueller, a native of Schaumberg, IL, scored nine goals and added a nation-best 21 assists in just 21 games with the Badgers during his senior season of 2017, and helped lead Wisconsin to a conference championship and the third round of the 2017 NCAA College Cup. He also played nine PDL games with Chicago FC United in 2017, scoring four goals and adding three assists.

In 2016, Mueller played two PDL games without scoring and notched eight goals and 11 assists in 19 games with Wisconsin. He was a USC Third Team All-American after his junior season, as well as a USC First Team All-Midwestern Region selection and an All-Big Ten first teamer. Over his entire collegiate career, Mueller scored 22 goals with 35 assists in 75 games (55 starts), producing one of the best bodies of work in Wisconsin history.

Mueller is a bright young talent who is versatile enough to play multiple attacking positions. At 5-foot-9, he’s not a great aerial target int he box but he reads the game well, can play intricate passes in and around the box, he’s good on set pieces, and can find the net. He put 30 of his 72 shot attempts on goal last season (41.7%).

Here’s what Wisconsin Head Coach John Trask had to say about Mueller upon his arrival in college:

“Christopher is another in a long line of Chicago based players who have helped Wisconsin soccer over the years. He is a coach’s dream, both technical and hard working with the ability to unbalance opposing defenses in a number of different ways. Chris can play multiple spots for us and I believe when he gets settled within the team great things will come from him.”

Here’s a look at what Mueller can do:

And here is his message to Orlando City fans: