2015 MLS Draft position rankings: Defenders

Ahead of the 2015 MLS Draft, TopDrawerSoccer.com will take a position-by-position look at some of the top players available.

Today is a look at the defenders who should be high on MLS teams’ draft boards on Thursday, lumping together left backs, right backs and central defenders.

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Below are the top 15 defenders in this year’s MLS draft pool.

1. Otis Earle, UC Riverside
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 170 lbs. | Career Stats: 57 games, 5 goals, 14 assists

The UC Riverside standout has been a hidden gem for much of his college career. Earle was one of the top players for the Highlanders, but lacked the national spotlight without a NCAA tournament appearance. The English-born defender is good in one-v-one situations and solid getting forward. In the limited pool of left backs, Earle looks to be a very good option for a team in the first round.