Should Jordan Morris go pro?

Jurgen Klinsmann seems to be urging the 21-year-old to turn pro, but should he?

Following the NCAA College Cup, US National Team Coach Jurgen Klinsmann publicly urged Stanford junior Jordan Morris to seek a professional career and not play his senior season for the Cardinals.

Klinsmann said, “Now comes a big moment for Jordan Morris. He has to decide what is his next step. His next step obviously has to be becoming a professional,” in a quote provided by US Soccer to ESPN.

Many people have second-guessed the comments made by the US boss, but what it comes down to is: What more is there in the college game for Morris?

The 21-year-old forward scored two goals in the College Cup Final to lead his team to their first NCAA Title and has already featured for the National Team scoring one goal in his seven senior caps. Additionally, he is the first player since the 1990s to earn a senior cap as a collegiate athlete.

Though it may seem like Klinsmann is urging Morris not to complete his education, he is in fact just trying to further the quality of his team by pushing Morris to play at the highest level of competition.

In most other countries, by the age of 21, players have been playing professionally for several years. However, the US Youth system greatly inhibits the development of young players. Klinsmann has been trying to develop his team from the ground up using young players and pushing his players to play at the top level.

It seems that the US Manager is constantly under fire for pushing his players such as when he suggested players leave the MLS for foreign leagues.

Ultimately, Morris should begin to look at a professional career. There is nothing left for him in college soccer as he has achieved the highest accolades possible in the college game.

While his 13 goal season tied him for seventh in most goals scored in the NCAA, his performances showed that it is time for him to look beyond college.

At this point the decision for Morris should not be if he should go pro, but if he should play in the MLS or look to play abroad. Developmentally, Morris may be slightly behind 21-year-olds from other nations but if he does choose to go professional he would easily become one of the top American talents.