"Adams is the first player to complete every level of the New York Red Bulls Player Development pyramid, from the RDS Program, through the academy system, USL and into the First Team."

When Tyler Adams was the first player signed to the nascent USL team in 2015, few knew what he was about. We saw a skinny kid with supposed potential. Well, cross out the supposed.

In four short years, Adams rose through the ranks. In 2016, he led the USL team to a championship. In 2017, he became an unquestionable starter in MLS and broke into the national team. In 2018, he became the best defensive midfielder in the league.

It's such a meteoric rise, and the backstory is what makes it special. This was his club from early childhood: it's the club that he entered as a boy and exists as a man.

Exists, of course, for in 2019, Adams will play for a different Red Bull team, the one that already poached his head coach, the one in Leipzig. And we can't help but be a little upset that the graduation process goes through New York and ends with our European overlords.

That being said, Adams was not long for MLS. His skills are more than good enough for the next level, and we hope that one day he returns to his boyhood club after having conquered Europe.

For now, he is our first graduate. Spread your wings, Tyler! We're sad to see you go... but it had to happen.