Jay Needham was drafted by the DC United of Major League Soccer. (Jennifer Broyles)

SMU senior defender Jay Needham was the 32nd pick in the Major League Soccer Superdraft, held Friday in Indianapolis, Ind. DC United picked up Needham in the third round. In all, 52 players from across the country were drafted to the MLS.

Needham plans to head to DC soon, with team physicals and training starting at the end of January.

“We’ll probably start training the day after physicals,” said Needham. DC United will participate in tournaments beginning in February.

As a result of the early schedule, Needham will not be finishing out his academic career at SMU. As he prepares for DC, Needham is heading toward a new city and a whole new team.

“I don’t know any of the other guys who were drafted. I don’t really know anyone on the team. It will be a complete fresh start for me out there,” he said.

For the Mustang senior, 2006 was a busy year. Needham was a team tri-captain, along with Mynor Gonzalez and Chase Wileman. Needham was also a M.A.C. Hermann Trophy finalist and named to the NSCAA All-American first team. In SMU’s conference, Needham was named the 2006 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Conference first-team selection.

The Ft. Worth, Texas native started in every game since his sophomore season in 2004. This year, Needham scored three goals and posted three assists, adding to the six goals and one assist he made in the 2005 season.

Needham participated in the 2007 Adidas MLS Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., the week before the MLS Superdraft.

“It was really hot [in Florida] for this time of year, but it was nice not to be freezing. The talent was good, overall it was a good time,” Needham said.

At the Combine, SMU senior midfielder Chase Wileman joined Needham, where the two played on the same team.