On Thursday, Daniel Pereira made Virginia Tech and MLS history as the #1 overall pick in the 2021 MLS Draft. Pereira becomes just the third Hokie to be selected #1 overall in a professional draft, along with Michael Vick and Bruce Smith. The Tech sophomore was taken by Austin FC as the first-ever draft pick by the new MLS club. Austin FC and Pereira will kick off the 2021 MLS season in March.
The top five selections were all from the ACC - Virginia Tech (1), Wake Forest (2), & Clemson (2). Many mock drafts had Pereira as a high-first round selection, but it came as a surprise to see Austin FC take him first overall.