Now more than ever in MLS, young stars are taking center stage. From 18-year-old Julian Hall becoming the youngest player in league history to score a hat trick last week to a new wave of academy products earning meaningful minutes, the league is shifting toward youth. One former Indiana Hoosier, however, has recently gone viral in more ways than one.
During his time at Indiana, Sam Sarver emerged as one of the Hoosiers' most dynamic players. He played in 90 games for IU, scoring 24 goals and adding 22 assists. Twice named All-Big Ten and All-America, he helped Indiana win the 2023 College Cup, the 2023 Big Ten championship and regular-season titles in 2023 and 2024.
Sarver was selected 41st overall by FC Dallas in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and quickly made an impact with North Texas SC, the club’s reserve team. In 2025, he scored 19 goals in 25 games, leading to a three-year deal with FC Dallas the following year.
Though not a starter, Sarver has scored in three of his past four matches off the bench, with his most recent goal against the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday going viral. In the final moments of the match, after only being on the field for six minutes, Sarver slipped through the defense and scored the game-winner in FC Dallas’ 3-2 victory. But that is not what fans are talking about.
After the goal, Sarver called for a team celebration with a strange history. The “scuba” celebration, in which players sit on a ledge and fall backward to mimic scuba diving, was a major no-no at IU, according to Sarver.
“My coach at Indiana, Todd Yeagley, told me about a player from way before I got there that used to do that scuba celebration, and he yelled at him for it because he didn’t want him to get hurt,” Sarver said after the match. “And I was like, ‘It’d be funny if we did that.’”
The scuba celebration was only the beginning. Because the match was in San Jose, it was safe to assume the home fans were frustrated about losing on a goal in the 92nd minute. One fan, in particular, threw a full beer can onto the field, and it happened to land near Sarver. Sarver grabbed the can and chugged it in front of the camera. That is certainly one way to go viral on social media.
FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill praised Sarver’s performance and his ability to make an impact off the bench.
“Well, it wasn’t to chug a beer after he scored, if that’s what you’re asking,” Quill told reporters after the match. “But the kid is electric. He knows how to score goals. He knows how to be in the right spot, and his pace is high-level.
“His efficiency in front of goal is top class, and he’s fun to watch, not just because of his ability but because of who he is as a person. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He embraces the super-sub role, and he won us the game today.”
Sarver could make a splash in the starting lineup or continue to serve as the super-sub, as Quill put it. He has already proven he can impact a match in an instant.
