STANFORD, Calif. – Redshirt senior defender Tanner Beason was selected 12th overall in the first round of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes on Thursday.
One of four players in program history to be named first-team All-America more than once, Beason became the first player in Pac-12 conference history to sweep both Pac-12 Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2018.
"Tanner had an absolutely amazing career at Stanford," said the Knowles Family Director of Men's Soccer Jeremy Gunn. "He was a cornerstone of our program and epitomizes everything we want to see in a Stanford student-athlete, having served as a captain for the last few seasons. Tanner is a rare breed of defender who truly loves defending, he is a remarkable leader by example and I am positive he will have a successful career as a professional."
A 2019 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, Beason departs Stanford having made 81 appearances with 20 goals and 11 assists while converting all 13 of his attempts from the penalty spot. Beason redshirted in 2015, the first of three consecutive national championships for the Cardinal, before playing a significant role on Stanford's 2016 and 2017 title-winning sides. Beason, a finalist for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award, helped Stanford earn 47 shutouts in his 81 appearances on The Farm.
Beason is the 26th player in program history to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft, which continues Jan. 13 with Rounds 3-4, which will be conducted via conference call.
