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The Seattle Sounders chose defender Jimmy Ockford from the University of Louisville with the 21st pick of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.
Ockford spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Mount St. Mary's, starting 48 games while there. As a junior he ranked fourth on the team with four points. He transferred to Louisville for his senior year and had a huge impact immediately. He was named the American Athletic Conference Defender of the Year and scored four goals in the process.
According to his coaches, Ockford isn't a flashy defender, but one of the bruising centerbacks in the vein of the old English mold. He is solid on the tackle and has a good presence in the air despite standing at just 6'1. The style of Louisville's possession-oriented attack suited Ockford's style of play, but coaches expressed concerned that he doesn't handle the ball as well in pressured situations.
Ockford hasn't been playing as a centerback for too long, so he will might need a bit of work to find his role with the Sounders. Perhaps his most important piece of trivia -- he is a talented rapper. If you would like to hear a sample of his flavor, click the video below.
