D.C. United rookie, former McDonogh star Michael DeShields dishes on early days in the pros

East Baltimore native, McDonough alum and former Wake Forest star Michael DeShields is the latest Charm City soccer standout to test the pro ranks. And he’ll be doing it close to home.

DeShields played three seasons at Wake, including a 2019 campaign that saw the Demon Deacons reach the NCAA semifinals, before a neck injury forced him to miss his senior fall in 2020. Despite that, D.C. United selected the center back with the fifth overall pick of the 2021 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, and signed him to a contract before preseason workouts kicked off on Marcy 1.

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DeShields joined Baltimore Sports and Life last week to discuss his transition to the pros, appreciation for his college career, and more. Below are his remarks, edited for length and clarity.

Baltimore Sports and Life: You were obviously excited to be selected as high as you were — and by a nearby club — back in January. What has the rest of the winter been like?

Michael DeShields: The last month has really just been trying to meet all the guys, and trying to acquaint myself with them, and just try to bring the positive energy that I like to, and just be a part of the team. 

BSL: And how are the nerves now that you’re into the first few days of training?

MDS: Nerves are definitely high. From the level I was at, to the level where I am now, it’s a huge jump, and I think every rookie is feeling it a little bit right now. Some are probably handling it better than others. But the nerves were high, and they haven’t really disappeared completely yet. They’re slowly going away, obviously with more touches, more just developing my confidence. I think that’s the big thing, being in this new environment, I just have to get used to it and continue to grow my confidence. 

BSL: After reaching the Final Four in 2019, I know 2020 at Wake didn’t go the way you wanted. What is it like reflecting back on it now?

MDS: That was a wild year. I can’t explain it better than that. It was just a lot of things going on at the same time. With covid happening, I had still made the decision I still wanted to come back and play at Wake, because that was my final year, that was my captain year actually as well. I wanted to lead the team as the declared captain.

I was very hungry, very very hungry to go back and make the most of that captain year. But things happened. The injury happened. Covid happened. And a lot of things didn’t go the same way. But our team did very well and we made a good run until, again, Covid happened. 

BSL: You signed with New England Revolution II of USL League One (the third level of U.S. pro soccer) late in 2020 before you were drafted by D.C. Can you explain what went into that decision?

MDS: The way it happened, and the way Covid happened, I hadn’t played since 2019. It was just a very up in the air situation, and I didn’t know what would be there for me. So when you get a guarantee, you kind of want to take it. And that’s kind of what my mentality was in that decision.

I didn’t know what to expect going into the draft. But it was a dream come true.

BSL: There’s a lot of debate about the value of a college career for players who aspire to play professionally, as compared to turning pro straight from a youth academy. Why was college the right choice for you?

MDS: I think anyone going to college is going to learn a lot about themselves and learn a lot about different people who are not from where they’re from. I think it kind of diversifies your mentality by meeting a bunch of people that you wouldn’t have met before. And I think going to college made me grow as a person. I wouldn’t take back the opportunity of going to Wake Forest and I really appreciate everything that they’ve done for me, and how much I learned as well. It made me a complete person, I think.

Obviously I’m still learning, and there’s still many years that I hope to continue to do so. But Wake Forest is a great place, and I think anyone going to college is not making the wrong decision. 

BSL: Do you have concrete goals for your first year as a pro, or are you looking to take it one day at a time?

MDS: I take it day by day. I think my goal would be to help the team win as much as I possibly can, whatever role that may be. There’s obviously team goals. There’s personal goals. But I think the team-first mentality is the way to go, and I think that helping this team win, and helping in any way I can, whether it be on the bench, whether it be hopefully on the field, it doesn’t matter. Winning is the goal, that’s our team and that’s what we want. 

BSL: In Steve Birnbaum and Donovan Pines, you have two teammates who are also center backs who played college soccer. That must help a lot in your adjustment to the pro game, right?

MDS: It really does, and I’ve been talking to them a lot. Watching them at practice, it’s a great thing to see because, especially Donovan being the same age as me basically, he’s like an idol figure and he doesn’t even know. And I’m just learning a lot and just watching and observing, and just trying to take down notes in my head to incorporate in my game as well. 

BSL: What words do you have for the Baltimore community following your career and rooting for you in your rookie season?

MDS: I guess I would say keep fighting to the young people that are out there. I love seeing the young people fighting to get their spots on the team, because that’s what we all have to do and we’ve all been through. Keep balling, keep fighting, keep doing what you do and keep working hard. I wasn’t on the simplest path. I went to a good school. I was on a good team. But I wasn’t playing the entire time. It’s a fight, and hopefully I’m going to continue to fight with this team as well.