2019 SuperDraft: Breaking down the defensive midfielders and defenders

Yesterday, we broke down the offensive-minded players. Today, we move on to the defensive half of the pitch.

While the top half is rather talented, the defensive midfield of this class, we think, is rather thin. There are only three or four defensive center mids, maybe five, that are pretty good; even if they are depth pieces, they can help a team.

In the back line, though, there is some talent there that can help many a club in defending.

Let’s start today’s breakdowns with the defensive midfielders.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS

Anderson Asiedu, UCLA

Despite standing 5-foot-6, Asiedu received a lot of praise during the Combine game Saturday. He has a motor, is solid in defending and with his dispossession skills, a strong right, a great burst of pace. He also makes things happen, and has some escapability under pressure. He’s also an international player, so we’ll see who wants to spend a precious slot on a hard worker.

Andrew Samuels, Maryland

Samuels is gangly, about 5-foot-9, 150 pounds, and he is skilled. But in my notes of watching his film, I inquire, “Can he play at the MLS level?” He may be undersized, unless he hits the weight room. Don’t know if he’ll be able to hang with larger midfielders/strikers.

Sam Brown, Harvard

There was little film on Brown: I called Harvard’s Sports Information office last week, and they emailed me a 25-second clip of him scoring with a powerful right foot from distance. He’s a big young man with crack-back ability, and he had his name called once on Saturday. Hoping we see a little more of him Wednesday.

Geoffrey Dee, Louisville

We liked what we saw on Dee’s highlight reel. He’s an attacking-minded defensive midfielder with a strong left foot, complete with positive touches and passes. He’s got good vision, can make things happen, and I envisioned him in the Revs’ system. But on Saturday, he didn’t have that great of a game. I’m hoping he has a rebound Wednesday, because he is a very good young player — he might be one of the best DCM’s in the draft — who could start, with time, in MLS.

Javi Perez, Pittsburgh

Perez can alternate between the defensive side and attacking side of the midfield. The Spaniard has good vision and good vertical passes. He can play either side of the 4-2-3-1. We’d be interested to see if someone would be willing to take a chance on a 23-year-old international in a weak DCM class.

Brad Dunwell, Wake Forest

There was no film on Dunwell, but we know he’s good on the half-turn. He got the ball up in the attack on Saturday.

Tommy McCabe, Notre Dame

There was no film on McCabe, but he has a strong presence in the middle. We’re going to look into him more on Wednesday. He’s 21 years old.

DEFENDERS

Callum Montgomery, UNC-Charlotte

A MAC Hermann semifinalist, Montgomery is poised to go high in the first round. A left-footed, left center back, he has calmness needed to solidify any back line. He performed well on Saturday.

Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, Connecticut

We watched a couple of UConn games last week, and the tall Hauser-Ramsey stood out as the left center back for the Huskies. He had command in the back, vertical passes, good awareness, and keeps his goalkeeper safe. We liked his positioning, too. He would be a good value pick for any team looking for solid center back depth.

Dylan Greenberg, Connecticut

Our sources in the Nutmeg State like Greenberg’s skill set, and we have to agree — despite his size (5-foot-6, 145 pounds). Greenberg is a left back, is aggressive in attack, and has the wherewithal to stay with his opponent to keep him in front. He played fairly well on Saturday, picked up a knock, but came back about 20 minutes later. Another value pick, we think.

Akeem Ward, Creighton

Ward really impressed Saturday. He hustled all over the place and was rather consistent the whole time. Ward didn’t have film available, but he can play either right or left back.

Sean McSherry, Princeton

McSherry was solid at right back Saturday. He’s got some pace, finishing the 30-meter dash Friday in less than four seconds.

John Nelson, North Carolina/Generation Adidas

Nelson opened eyes in Chapel Hill, and he’s opened some eyes in Orlando. He’s got a vicious left-footed shot, and he has some size about him. He’s also calm in clearing under pressure. He’d be on the left side of any back line.

Sam Junqua, California

I have him as playing either center back or defensive midfield. He uses both feet well, has good skill on the ball, as well as solid anticipation of where the ball is going.

Logan Gdula, Wake Forest/East Lyme, Conn.

We saw no film on Gdula, but he impressed with positive touches as well as a goal on Saturday. Playing left back, Gdula stepped up into space and buried a chance from distance. We're hearing that his draft stock is rising.

Prosper Figbe, Virginia

We liked what we saw on film and in Saturday’s Combine game out of Figbe. He is a strong defender, is patient, good under pressure, an aerial presence, and a powerful right foot. He had a solid vertical pass to Sebastian Patino.

Patrick Bunk-Andersen, Clemson

The Danish left center back plays his position well and gets into the passing lanes to intercept. His right foot is stronger than his left from what we can tell, has positive vertical passes, and is rather smooth in his movements.

Kervin Kenton Fadel, Coastal Carolina

The Costa Rican U20 is strong, aggressive, smart with his tackles, and has a bit of pace to him.

Kamal Miller, Syracuse

The 6-foot-1 left back/left center back has really good positioning, makes smart tackles, and is aggressive to get into the right positions.

Abdi Mohammed, Akron

Mohammed had a bad giveaway early Saturday, but it didn’t hurt too badly. But in the film we watched, we saw his game management skills, drawing opponents into the corner before using a pass that led to a goal. We can appreciate that. The 5-foot-11 right back has a motor as he gets into the attack, and has some lift in him for someone his size. We liked his 1-v-1 ability, and he can press.

Lennart Hein, Saint Louis

This tall German left center back is good under pressure, and isn’t afraid to bring to the ball into the attacking half. He’s a smart player, and with his height, not many can beat him at the 50/50 balls.

Alex Cosmia, North Carolina

There wasn’t much film on Cosmia, but his aggressive play saw some praise Saturday.

Mitchell Osmond, University of Rio Grande

The Aussie left center back is the 2017 PDL Defender of the Year, and he has great all-around defending. He plays all over the back line, has solid awareness, and a good right foot.

Roy Boateng, Cal-Davis

The 6-foot-2 right center back has good pace and good movement with the ball. He also had the best vertical leap — three feet — of anyone at the Combine Friday.

There was no film on Wouter Verstraaten from the University of the Pacific; Chase Gasper of Maryland, Brendan McDonough of Georgetown, Marcelo Borges of Michigan, and Rece Buckmaster of Indiana.

Tomorrow: Goalkeepers