GK, Duran Ferree, San Diego FC (2006)
GK, Julian Eyestone, Brentford (2006)
RB, Reed Baker-Whiting, Nashville SC (2005)
RB, Justin Reynolds, Sporting Kansas City (2004)
LB, Peyton Miller, New England Revolution (2007)
CB, Brandan Craig, CF Montréal (2004)
CB, Nolan Norris, FC Dallas (2005)
CB, Thomas Williams, Nashville SC (2005)
DM, Santiago Castañeda, SC Paderborn (2004)
DM, Brooklyn Raines, New England Revolution (2005)
CM, Taha Habroune, Columbus Crew (2006)
CM, Jackson Hopkins, D.C. United (2004)
CM, Sergio Oregel, Chicago Fire (2005)
CM, Rokas Pukstas, Hajduk Split (2004)
AM, Alan Carleton, Sandvikens (2005)
W, Zach Booth, Real Salt Lake (2004)
W, Luke Brennan, Atlanta United (2005)
W, Cole Campbell, Hoffenheim (2006)
W, Korede Osundina, Casa Pia (2004)
CF, Damion Downs, Hamburger SV (2004)

It's interesting that the 2004 class is included in this age group considering they're technically U-22s and aren't eligible for the next Olympics, which will be restricted to 2005-born players and younger. It's an effort by U.S. Soccer to keep the 2004s engaged in the program.

This roster has a number of high-potential players with USMNT upside. Both keepers are very talented. Ferree is fighting for the starting position with San Diego FC and has shown well when given his opportunities. Julian Eyestone has a ton of potential but has yet to get a first-team opportunity. He could use a loan for the upcoming season.

From the full-back group, Peyton Miller is the biggest name and the only 2007 on the roster. Miller is age-eligible for the next U-20 World Cup but has been promoted beyond that.

From the center-back group, the player with the least first-team experience might have the greatest potential: Thomas Williams. He can't seem to crack a first team, though, which does raise some concerns. Nolan Norris, on the other hand, has become a pretty consistent starter for FC Dallas, playing as an LCB in a back three — an ideal role for him.

The pivots have a ton of potential. Santiago Castañeda helped lead SC Paderborn to a Bundesliga promotion, and we'll get to really find out what he's made of next year. Brooklyn Raines, Taha Habroune and Rokas Pukstas also aren't super far away from knocking on the USMNT door. Pukstas in particular is in line for a move into a top-five league this year, and if he acclimates well, could be in for a USMNT promotion very soon.

The attacking group is a little more maligned. Cole Campbell has struggled to make the jump from second-team football to first-team football. It could be that being Bundesliga-ready is too big an ask for him right now. Hoffenheim has a decision to make soon on whether to make his loan from Borussia Dortmund permanent. Either way, I think a loan to a less competitive league to get more minutes would really benefit him.

Damion Downs is the only player on this roster with USMNT caps, and he has six. He's another player looking for a better club situation next season, with his loan spell at Hamburg ending this summer.

There are many top players from the 2004 to 2006 age groups and Zavier Gozo from the 2007 age group who aren't here. You could also make a case that Julian Hall and Adri Mehmeti have done enough in MLS to warrant a U-21 call-up. The reasons for these absences are unknown to me, so I won't speculate on who was and wasn't a sporting omission.

Much like the U-20 roster, without all the information around who was and wasn't available, it's impossible for me to truly judge this roster.