Wake Forest Adds Six to 2022 Signing Class
11/12/2021 7:07:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Three members of this year’s class will join the program in January.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest men's soccer has announced the addition of six members to the program's 2022 signing class in Cooper Flax, Samuel Jones, Alec Kenison, Devin Armstong, Vlad Walent and Nicholas Rabiu.
Prior to the additions of Kenison and Rabiu, this year's recruiting class ranked as the No. 3 class nationally according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. Additionally, the No. 3 ranking is the highest ranking amongst ACC programs.
The Demon Deacons have had a top-10 ranked recruiting class each year since head coach Bobby Muuss took over the program in 2015.
Cooper Flax | Midfielder | Dix Hills, N.Y.
Set to join the program in January, Flax has been a member of numerous youth national teams along with New York City FC's Academy. He has trained with New York's first team in each of the last two preseasons as well.
He is the top rated player in New York for the Class of 2022 and a top-25 rated recruit nationally.
Muuss on Flax: "Cooper is a player we are extremely excited about as he comes in with high expectations from National Team experience to training at the highest levels with the New York City FC organization. He's a savvy central midfielder with a high soccer IQ that I believe will fit in well with how we see the game. We're fortunate that Cooper will be joining us in January so that he can jump start his development and acclimation to our system, style of play and the Wake Forest culture."
Samuel Jones | Midfielder | Portsmouth, Va.
Also enrolling at Wake Forest in January, Jones has national team experience at the U-17 (where he scored in his debut against Spain) and U-20 levels and has been with Philadelphia Union II of the USL Championship since last summer.
Coming through the Philadelphia Union Academy, Jones is a Virginia native.
Muuss on Jones: "I'm thrilled to be able to add someone of Sam's character and quality to our program. Sam is a physically imposing center back who's also had experience with various youth National Team levels as well as the highest levels within the Philadelphia Union organization. We're also thrilled to have Sam join us in January so that we can get him acclimated to our program and accelerate his development into our brand."
Alec Kenison | Midfielder | San Diego, Calif.
Originally hailing from San Diego, Kension has spent time with the San Diego Surf Soccer Club before moving to Ohio to join the Columbus Crew's Academy.
Additionally, he has been included in the U-17 National Team pool along with training trials with Leicester City, Brighton, Fulham and Middlesbrough in England.
He will join the program in January.
Muuss on Kenison: "Alec is a player we had our eye on for a long time and I'm glad we finally landed him and added him into the fold to bolster this recruiting class. Alec is another extremely versatile player who has technical ability, soccer IQ, athleticism, and a tenacity that will serve him well during his time here at Wake. He comes from a club in Columbus with a strong identity of their style of play and I think he'll have a good transition into our brand of futbol. Alec is another player that we're lucky to have joining us in January so that we can kick start his transition into Wake Forest."
Devin Armstrong | Goalkeeper | Palm Harbor, Fla.
Having trained with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship, Armstrong is one of the top prospects out of the state of Florida.
Along with his time with the Rowdies, he also spent a combined three years in the Development Academy and MLS Next with Tampa Bay United.
Muuss on Armstrong: "Devin is a goalkeeper that we've added from Tampa Bay who I feel is a great addition to our already strong goalkeeper core. Devin's got a great frame and someone who we believe can develop into a quality goalkeeper here at Wake Forest. Devin's also one of those kids I think that you just want to be around, he's always positive, always wants to learn and is someone I get excited about working with from his mentality."
Vlad Walent | Defender | Lafayette, Colo.
Coming through the Colorado Rapids' Academy starting in 2017, Walent recently made appearances with the Colorado Switchbacks in the USL Championship.
Muuss on Walent: "Vlad is a quality young man that has an amazing story to be where he's been and where he is now. Vlad has a lot of versatility in terms of where he fits into our system, his quickness and technical ability make him a dynamic player to add into our program. He also has the tenacity to win 1v1 duels on both the attacking and defensive side of the ball has USL Experience with the Colorado Switchbacks for the last two seasons."
Nicholas Rabiu | Midfielder | Schenectady, N.Y.
Rabiu is the latest addition to the roster from the New York Red Bulls' Academy who also has made appearances for Red Bulls II of the USL Championship.
Muuss on Rabiu: "Nico is a dynamic attacking player that we had our eye on for a long time. He is a player that is somewhat under the radar due to some injuries he battled with the last year or so, however he's fully healthy now and you can see his quality start to shine through. He brings pace, 1v1 play and a desire to run behind and get on the end of service that our program needs right now. I'm thrilled to be able to add an attacking piece like Nico to our group and think he will thrive during his time here at Wake Forest."
