A photo of Chris Duvall, who was then 2 1/2 years old, sits in the office of his father, Derrell, in their home in Duluth.
Chris is wearing a soccer uniform and has a soccer ball that is almost as big as he is.
Even then, his mother, Darlene, had an idea that her son had a talent for the sport.
That talent was verified yet again last week when Duvall was selected by the New York Red Bulls in the second round of the MLS Super Draft.
“He’s been on the fields since he was born,” Darlene Duvall said. “He would stand on the sidelines and kick balls since the time he could walk at 9 1/2 months.”
Being picked by the Red Bulls was a dream come true for Duvall for many reasons: He grew up wanting to play professional soccer, and Red Bulls’ star Thierry Henry is one of Duvall’s favorite players. He has a few of Henry’s jerseys.
But he doesn’t plan to ask Henry for an autograph, at least not yet. Though New York needs a right back, Duvall’s roster spot isn’t guaranteed.
There is much work to do.
“I’m not there to be a tourist,” he said. “I want to be a player.”
That the Red Bulls selected him was a surprise for many reasons. Duvall, who is the godson of former Falcons standout Billy “White shoes” Johnson, interviewed with several teams at the pre-draft combine, but the Red Bulls weren’t one of them.
At least one soccer website, Goal.com, thought that he was a reach with the 22nd pick.
Duvall doesn’t care.
“I’ve never been someone who concerns themselves with the media,” he said. “It’s always nice to have someone who doubts you so you can go and prove them wrong.”
Duvall hasn’t had many doubters.
By the time he was 5, Duvall wasn’t allowed to play on a team against boys his own age because he was too good. Instead, he competed against 7-year-olds.
“They wouldn’t let him play in his age group,” Darlene Duvall said. “He was more serious.”
Duvall eventually played for Concorde Fire and became a four-year letter-winner at Wesleyan School. He signed with Wake Forest as an attacking player, but was converted to defense where his speed up and down the wings and his ability to hit pinpoint crosses eventually pushed him into the starting lineup. He appeared in 74 games with 65 starts, scoring one goal and providing 11 assists.
Duvall seems to have the skill and speed to challenge for a roster spot, but he is only 5-10, 150 pounds, so he knows that he must get stronger to match the physically mature players in MLS.
But for now, he will head to training camp later this week, where he maybe he will get a chance to take on Henry.
“…He’ll be a different class of player than I’m used to playing, but hopefully the results will be the same,” Duvall said.
GSU player selected: Michael Nwiloh became the first player in Georgia State history to be selected in the MLS draft when Chivas picked the defender Tuesday.
Nwiloh, a defender, was chosen with the 59th pick.
Nwiloh, from Conyers, played 19 games at central defender last season. He was named to the All-South Region second team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
He played four seasons at Georgia State, starting 72 of 74 games. Nwiloh is a versatile defender, who finished with two goals and five assists in his GSU career. He played at George Walton Academy and enrolled at Central Florida before transferring to Georgia State.
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