Sounders select Air Force winger Tucker Bone

Looking for depth and projects that could develop with Tacoma, the Seattle Sounders selected Tucker Bone, of the Air Force Academy, with the 20th pick in the first round of the 2019 draft. Bone’s hometown is Granite Bay, Calif., but he was born in Tacoma.

Bone tested as the second most agile player at the Combine. The Falcons midfielder scored 13 goals with 6 assists as a senior to cap a career total of 25 goals and 22 assists. He started a majority of his final three years with Air Force Academy. He started 60 of 80 appearances overall.

Bone and the Sounders will have to appeal to the Department of Defense to show that he belongs in the World Class Athlete Program. This is the same program that Olympic athletes and other professionals use to get time during their peak athletic years to play their sport. Otherwise he would serve as an officer for a few years before resuming soccer. Bone has apparently expressed confidence that he’ll be allowed to pursue his professional career.

Under certain circumstances a team and service branch can work out an agreement to play while also serving as former Sounders supplemental pick Kevin Durr did when he played with the Colorado Switchbacks. The proximity of Joint Base Lewis-McChord should help.

Seattle still has pick 44 overall to draft today and pick 68 will be done via conference call on Monday.

Sergio Rivas, Seattle U standout, was selected 26th by the San Jose Earthquakes.