DALLAS (SMU) – SMU Men's Soccer defender Slade Starnes has signed a homegrown contract with FC Dallas, as announced by the MLS team today.

A MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American and ACC Championship MVP, Starnes came through the FC Dallas Academy and captained the FC Dallas U19 team.

The Dallas native closed his college career with 65 appearances, contributed to 24 clean sheets, scored seven goals and made eight assists.

The Mustangs' defense, led by Starnes, recorded seven clean sheets this season. They locked down No. 4 UVA, allowing no shots on target in the ACC championship match.

Starnes and the Mustangs' backline contained opponents to an average of only 9.0 shot attempts per game through the 2025 season, limiting five teams (Boston College, Cal, LMU, Oral Roberts and Virginia) to five shot attempts or less.

Prior to SMU, Starnes spent three years at Furman where he earned 2024 First Team All-Southern Conference and 2022 Southern Conference All-Freshman honors.

Starnes earned 43 starts in his time at Furman, contributing to 17 clean sheets.

SMU won the ACC Championship in November, the university's first conference title after joining the ACC in the summer of 2024.