7. Sean Sconone, G
The goaltender was widely credited for the Rattlers late winning streak and playoff push in 2019, and he was a big reason why the Hammerheads were a semifinalist in 2020. He went undrafted in both the MLL and PLL prior to the 2019 season, but he turned that around and won two consecutive MLL Goalie of the Year awards.
8. Ben Randall, D
In three seasons, he quickly emerged as one of the league’s best cover defenders. He has the size to match up with bigger, more physical players, as well as the speed to match up with smaller, quicker players.
9. Liam Byrnes, D/LSM
The 2019 MLL Defender of the Year can play close defense or as an LSM, and he also is a good passer in transition. When the Atlanta Blaze made the playoffs in 2019, Blaze goaltender Chris Madalon told the MLL website, “He was such a big part of what we were able to do this year. Not a lot of people like to focus on the defensive part of the game, but it’s been pretty obvious that he’s had an impact on our team the last two seasons.”
10. Nick Marrocco, G
Sconone has gotten the awards, but Marrocco got the championship trophy. He’s been a starter since the end of the 2018 season, and he showed in the 2020 championship game just how good he is with several point-blank, game-saving stops.
11. Bryce Wasserman, A
Since filling in for an injury-ravaged Ohio Machine in the 2018 season, Wasserman has proven he can score at the professional level. He scored 14 goals in five regular season games in 2020 and then had a goal and an assist in the championship game en route to earning the league MVP award.
12. Andrew Kew, A
“Andrew Kew really intrigues me,” Davis said. After scoring the game-winning goal in the 2019 MLL championship game, Kew finished tied for third-best in the league in 2020 with 14 goals.
13. Tommy Palasek, A
He’s often overlooked by teammates with more recognized names, but Palasek has put up impressive statistics since becoming a pro in 2012. He tallied at least 20 points every season from 2012-19, including a 31-goal season in 2015 and a 35-assist, 63-point season in 2019.
14. Colin Heacock, A
“Colin Heacock is going to go,” Ford said. “He’s a lefty. He can play attack. He’s tough as nails. You could say he could play short-stick defensive middie and be as good as anybody, that’s how athletic he is.”
15. Isaiah Davis-Allen, SSDM
The 2017 second-round draft pick plays fast, pushes transition, does a good job picking up ground balls and plays solid defense.
16. Michael Rexrode, D
At Rutgers, he was a two-time All-American and the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He’s transitioned well to the professional level and was a finalist for defender of the year in 2020.
17. Ryan Lee, A
The RIT-graduate led the Denver Outlaws in scoring in both 2019 and 2020, including scoring 38 goals and adding 46 points. He’s also not afraid of the big stage, scoring three goals in the 2019 MLL championship game.
18. C.J. Costabile, LSM
He is a player who has seemingly gotten better the longer he’s been a professional. He does a little bit of everything on the field. In five games in 2020, he picked up 14 ground balls, scored three goals (including two two-point goals), added three assists, caused four turnovers and won four faceoffs.
19. Bryan Cole, M
Ford called the 6’3” Cole MLL’s best midfielder in 2019 after he scored 39 goals to go along with 14 assists.
20. Alex Woodall, FO
The 2019 MLL Rookie of the Year has been solid, but Ford, his coach with the Barrage, thinks he hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential. “I don’t think Alex Woodall has had the pro career he’s wanted to have,” Ford said. “He’s taken a lot of faceoffs, but he’s better than right around 50 percent. … He wants to be the best in the world.”