GK, Adam Beaudry, Colorado Rapids (2006)
GK, Zackory Campagnolo, Colorado Rapids (2007)
RB, Sawyer Jura, Portland Timbers (2006)
RB, Owen Presthus, Columbus Crew (2006)
LB, Tahir Reid-Brown, Orlando City (2006)
CB, Freddie Anderson, Stoke City (2006)
CB, Stuart Hawkins, Seattle Sounders (2006)
CB, Elijah Scott, Lecce (2006)
DM, Edwyn Mendoza, San Jose Earthquakes (2006)
DM, Eric Klein, New England Revolution (2006)
CM, Devon Decorte, Anderlecht (2006)
CM, Aron John, Charlotte FC (2006)
AM, Cruz Medina, Chivas (2006)
AM, David Vazquez, San Diego FC (2006)
W, Dylan Borso, Chicago Fire (2006)
W, Bajung Darboe, Bayern Munich (2006)
W, Andre Gitau, Mainz (2006)
W, Bryce Jamison, Colorado Rapids (2006)
W, Mykhi Joyner, St. Louis City SC (2006)
CF, Din Klapija, RB Leipzig (2007)

All but one of these players appear to be playing for their club's second team. The only player on the roster who is making an impact at the first-team level is David Vazquez — and that tells you something about this age group and who is available for what is essentially a B team for the next Olympic cycle.

Between this roster and the U-21 roster, there are a lot of top 2004s, 2005s and 2006s not present who have meaningful roles at the first-team level. Many likely weren't released or didn't accept the call-up — whether for workload management or other reasons we're not privy to. That makes it genuinely difficult to evaluate the roster selection, since it's unclear who was invited and couldn't join.

With that context in mind, what I'm really looking for here is high-upside players who may need a little more time and some good career decisions to develop into legitimate USMNT candidates. Here are some of the players I think have a shot.

Tahir Reid-Brown has the profile of a high-level, defensive-minded left back, but his on-ball game needs to develop a lot before he gets there.

Elijah Scott is another with an intriguing profile — he stands around 6-foot-6 with good mobility for his size. He's not particularly dynamic on the ball yet, but if that improves, he has a legitimate ceiling.

Vazquez, the player with the most professional success on this roster so far, is becoming a better pro than I expected. I'm not sure I see a clear USMNT path for him yet, but he's on pace to be a very solid MLS player.

The two German-based wingers, Bajung Darboe and Andre Gitau, both have real talent and strong physical traits. They're different players, but share the same hurdle to becoming top-level attackers: final-third efficiency. Both can get into dangerous spots, but consistent execution in the final third hasn't been there yet. If that develops, there's USMNT upside in both of them.

Bryce Jamison is another with a ton of talent that hasn't fully come together yet. He's in his first year in MLS and doesn't appear to be in Colorado's plans at the first-team level — and he isn't even starting consistently in MLS Next Pro, which is worth monitoring.

Din Klapija is one of two 2007s on the roster. He's a skilled striker with good feet, but hasn't produced a lot since moving to RB Leipzig's academy.

One player I would have been interested to see here — assuming he was available — is 19-year-old Arif Kovac of Atlanta United 2. He has eight goals in ten matches, stands around 6-foot-5 with decent mobility and feet. Strikers can develop on longer timelines, and Kovac looks like a late-developing striker with some intriguing upside worth tracking.

Without a clear picture of who was and wasn't available, it's impossible to fairly judge this roster. There's enough context missing around release decisions and call-up responses that a traditional grade wouldn't tell you much.