Kirk Urso

Out of college, Urso was selected with the 10th overall pick of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft by Columbus Crew; he joined North Carolina teammate Ben Speas in Columbus after Speas had signed with the club as a homegrown player a week earlier. After taking part in preseason with the Crew, Urso signed with the club on March 1, 2012. With starting defensive midfielder Danny O'Rourke sidelined by injury to begin the season, Urso made his club and professional debut in the season opener against Colorado Rapids on March 10. He played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 defeat for Columbus. Urso tallied his first point for the Crew in just his fourth match, albeit in a 4–1 defeat against New York Red Bulls on April 7. His corner kick in the 89th minute was headed home by club captain Chad Marshall, briefly cutting the Columbus deficit to 3–1. Urso started each of Columbus' first five games, but dropped out of the lineup following O'Rourke's return. He made his sixth and final appearance for the Crew as a substitute against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 28. Urso missed the month of May after suffering a groin injury, then underwent surgery in June for what was confirmed to be right adductor tendonitis. The day before Urso's death, the Crew had suffered a 1–0 defeat on the road against D.C. United. Due to his injury, Urso had not traveled with the team to Washington, D.C. but had instead remained behind in Columbus.

After rising through the ranks with the United States under-15 and under-16 national teams, Urso was admitted to the under-17 national team residency program at the IMG Soccer Academy in 2005. From there, he was named as part of the American roster for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, held in South Korea. In the Americans' final group stage game, against Belgium, Urso scored the match-winning goal in the 63rd minute, helping the United States place second in their group and advance to the knockout stages. He was later called up by the under-20s for the 2008 Milk Cup and for a training camp in December of that year.

Urso was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, the younger of two sons to his parents Michael and Sandra Urso. He attended Glenbard East High School and played in the Illinois Olympic Development Program (ODP) as a freshman before spending two years in the under-17 national team residency program at the IMG Soccer Academy. He was named to the 2006 NSCAA/adidas Youth All-America Team and the 2007 Parade High School All-America squad. At club level, Urso spent eight years in the Chicago Sockers youth setup before joining the residency program; with the Sockers, he played alongside Michael Bradley, David Meves, Greg Jordan, and Andy Rose. Urso committed to play college soccer for head coach Elmar Bolowich at the University of North Carolina, part of a recruiting class that also included Jordan Gafa, Billy Schuler, and Sheanon Williams.

Urso supported English club Arsenal. He played basketball as a child before committing to soccer full-time and was a fan of the Chicago Bulls. He majored in economics while at North Carolina. Prior to college, Urso had trained with Spanish club Real Madrid. While in school, he spent a semester in Europe training with Bolton Wanderers and Borussia Dortmund. Urso's older brother, Kyle, played college soccer at New Hampshire and in the National Premier Soccer League with Seacoast United Phantoms.