MLS Draft Interview: Michael Adedokun, CF Montreal

With the No. 13 in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, CF Montreal selected Michael Adedokun, a midfielder out of Ohio State.

Adedokun won the 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy on Friday, awarded to the best player in college soccer. Montreal did not fare too poorly to grab the winner of the prestigious award at its No. 13 position in the draft order. Adedokun is the first winner of the award from Ohio State.

"From the beginning season, let me say after the first six games of the season, every player in my team has been reaching me like, 'Hey Mike Hermann,'" Adedokun said after winning the award. "Winning MAC Hermann [on Friday was] a big privilege and I really thank my teammates."

In 2024, Adedokun won Big Ten Midfielder of the Year with his blazing 11 goal, 11 assist campaign. The All-Big Ten First Team member helped his team win the conference title and earn the top overall seed in the entire country.

In the NCAA Tournament, Adedokun led his team to the College Cup. The Buckeyes warded off Western Michigan, No. 16 Stanford and No. 8 Wake Forest en route to Cary, N.C. In the semifinal matchup with No. 13 Marshall, Ohio State's magical season came to an end in upset fashion, but that does not take anything away from Adedokun's special year.

For the Eruwa, Nigeria native, things were not always going so swimmingly. Adedokun's college journey was truly a roller coaster of emotions. His trek to America began in 2021, when he arrived at Dayton. He initially had no plans of attending an American college.

"Coming into the States, I didn't know a lot about America," Adedokun said. "I came here straight from Nigeria, so I didn't even know anything about MLS, either. I had the opportunity because one of the Dayton coaches came to Nigeria for a recruitment program and they had the chance to play against my academy."

Adedokun's talent was quite apparent in high school, leading those around him to believe his next step was a move to Europe.

"My academy actually played against the trialists, so then after that, [the Dayton coach] was like, I want their captain, because I was the captain in my academy," Adedokun said. "But then my academy told him, 'Nah, this one is Europe ready, so we are preparing for Europe. He's not [going to] go to college.'"

The denial did not last, as the Flyers continued to put pressure on Adedokun and his academy coach. The squeaky wheel eventually got the grease and he agreed to attend Dayton. At first, the change was too much for Adedokun to handle.

Funnily enough, my first week in Dayton, I wanted to go back to Nigeria," Adedokun said. "Because I came in January and it was freezing, nobody was watching us play. Compared to back at home, soccer is our biggest sport. So when you're playing, a lot of people are watching you play. So nobody was watching. I was like, 'Nah, I want to go back home.' This is not the kind of environment that I want to be in."

Adedokun says that adaptability is where he struggled the most in the abrupt culture change. He had conversations with his parents and his coach and ultimately decided to stay put despite the rough start. Not only was it a huge shift off the pitch, but also the style of play on the pitch.

"Back at home, we focus [mostly] on the technical aspect of the game," Adedokun said. "But here, everything is very physical. So because I was super skinny then, [I had] to go to the gym and do extra work."

In his freshman year at Dayton, Adedokun registered zero goal contributions. He was disheartened by his lack of scoring, especially because he was so accustomed to scoring goals his whole soccer career. He ended up spending some time in a defensive midfield role as well, but that did not work out either because he did not understand the system well.

After his second year with the Flyers, he started to blossom into the player he knew he was capable of being. He ended up getting injured, but his contributions up to that point in the season spoke for themselves. Adedokun was ready to move onto a new challenge.

"So then, I talked to the Dayton coach for me to move forward because now I think I'm understanding the American system more in terms of, I understand there are better conferences than Dayton's conference," Adedokun said. "I wanted to compete at a high level ... I wanted a bigger program where I can grow under other coaches a lot."

It's a natural reaction for a program to be disappointed about a quality player leaving their team and that was absolutely the case at Dayton.

"Dayton was very mad about it," Adedokun said. "But I [had to] do what I [had to] do, what I think is best for me. Then I had so many options when I went to the portal. But one of the main reasons I decided to come to Ohio State is because it's very close by to Dayton."

Adedokun was not convinced about becoming a Buckeye at first with all the great schools pursuing him in the portal. College players often play for USL League Two sides in the summer and Adedokun played for Fort Wayne FC, where his coach influenced him to attend Ohio State. Once he visited, the welcoming community sold him on the move.

"I came to Ohio State and decided to commit there because of the opportunity, the facilities and the boys welcomed me with open hands," Adedokun said. "So they really showed me they need me. They wanted me to be the part of the program."

The midfielder's first season at Ohio State was still shaky. He himself felt good about his performances, but the team struggled. The Buckeyes finished with a measly and seemingly cursed 6-6-6 record in 2023.

"At the beginning of the season, my first few games with Ohio State, I was quite phenomenal," Adedokun said. "All their fans, they liked me a lot. The way I play, I showed my quality, what I can do. Then after the third game, I got COVID, which kept me out of the team for like a couple weeks. So that's why I didn't play all the games."

That brings the story to the 2024 season, where Adedokun and his team was determined to produce a better end product.

"Going into this year, I was a little frustrated, because last season was my worst season in college," Adedokun said. "Because I've never lost so many games like that and tied so many games. I'm used to winning ... It wasn't a great experience, but, I [was] getting close to the level that I wanted to be. And then it's up to me to do more of the work."

Adedokun did not participate in USL2 over the summer because he was completing an internship in order to graduate. The sport industry major stayed on campus to help with registration and plan Buckeye camps and clinics. During that period, he continued his training ahead of the 2024 campaign.

"So then I went into the season with one mindset of give my more than 100%, give more than what I gave last year," Adedokun said. "If I can give more than what I gave last year, even though you don't get the results, I have the mindset of, I will stay on the field, cry a little bit there and get ready for the next game. So me, I wasn't going into the season like, yeah, I want to win. No, the [Big Ten Player of the Year] accolade came in based on the work that I'm putting in on the field and that's the mindset that I have, whatever it takes on the field, I'll give it."

Adedokun has elite speed that gives him the ability to play nearly any position on the pitch, whether it be on the wings or anywhere in the middle. Many attacking-minded players out of college have transitioned into wingbacks and that is a possibility in a system like Montreal's. He is comfortable wherever his coach wants him to play.

"For the last four years in college, I've played as a defensive mid," Adedokun said. "I played as an attacking mid. I played as a winger this year ... I know myself as a utility player. So wherever you want to use me and it's going to help the team to be successful."

Montreal's newest addition loves being on the ball. His combination of speed and tight control makes him a nightmare for defenders to deal with. He uses a series of quick touches and cuts to drive towards goal and create chances for his teammates. His first step is dangerously fast, once the defender turns their hips the wrong way, there's no way back. Adedokun enjoys combinations and always excels in picking out the right pass in the attacking build-up. Afford him space to operate in at your own peril.

"My coach can say 'Mike I like your speed that's where I think you're going to be really useful for our program,'" Adedokun said. Or he might say 'I like your 1v1 ability, so that might be useful.' Or maybe 'I like your finishing aspects,' it depends on my coach."

Adedokun has an opportunity to become a legit contributor at CF Montreal in his rookie year. Montreal snuck into the playoffs last season and lost in the play-in game, leading the club to clean house in many ways. A boatload of attacking players have been shipped away and very few reinforcements have arrived at this point. Adedokun hopes to prove that he deserves a spot on the matchday roster.

"I'm ready for it and I'm always ready to learn," Adedokun said. "I want to make Montreal my home, try as much as I can to be to keep improving as a player, as a young player, and then enjoy the moment."