MLS Draft 2017: RSL grab Denver’s Reagan Dunk with 13th pick

With the 13th pick in the first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, Real Salt Lake selected Reagan Dunk out of University of Denver.

Dunk, 22, is a defender that played across the backline through his collegiate career.

Interestingly, Dunk was also our SB Nation Mock Draft pick — so let’s let RSL Soapbox writer Weston Jenson tell us what he thought about the player.

Not too often do you find a defender that excels in both the defensive and offensive aspects of the game. Nimble on his feet and with a serious burst of pace, he has the tendency to look to feed attacking players in the opposition’s box. Dunk’s attacking prowess was on display when Denver took on Wake Forest. With some clever footwork, Wake’s Jacori Hayes and Ian Harkes were left to look like children on the pitch as Dunk frustrated them the entire match. Dunk can get up and down the flank just like Odoi-Atsem, however, the Denver alum serves a much better final ball.

Dunk is versatile, playing left back, center back, and right back when called upon in college. The young defender maintained a double digit shutout record for three of the last four years. In total, Dunk has 42 career shutouts in college and was know for only allowing four goals in 81 matches with the Pioneers. He will have to work on his 1-v-1 defensive ability in MLS, however, but both Tony Beltran and Chris Wingert can mentor him there. The idea with taking Dunk would be providing a back-up for Beltran, while also providing a little bit of a different skill-set for the evolving organization.