Dominating Defenders – Top Defenders in Georgia

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dominating defenders are an asset to every top youth and college team. The state of Georgia has some of the best defenders in the country right now. Here is a list of seven defenders that are making waves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["202082"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e7931fea5f1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Seyi is a top left back out of the [program_tooltip program_id='283610' first='Atlanta' last='United FC'] academy. He has all the tools to be the next exciting defender for the MLS Club. Seyi is an attacking left footed defender that can defend as well as he runs forward. He has provided assists from the wide areas with crosses and pin point through balls. He can also play calmly though pressure and has the speed to beat people on the dribble. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is considered one of the best left backs for his age in the country and had played for both the USYNT U16 team and made his debut for the MLS Next Pro team [program_tooltip program_id='283610' first='Atlanta' last='United FC'] 2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["202076"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e7931fea65c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fred is an athletic right back for [program_tooltip program_id='283610' first='Atlanta' last='United FC'] academy. The first thing you notice when you watch Fred is speed. Not many in country can match his pace and agility. This asset makes him a fantastic 1v1 defender and someone who can match up against opposing wingers. He also has the pace to provide attacking options in the final third. He can both counter attack and beat players off the dribble. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fred has represented the USYNT at the U15 and U16 levels and is one of the best right backs in the nation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["202086"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e7931fea6aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Josh is a right sided center back who can play as a 4 or 5 for the [program_tooltip program_id='283610' first='Atlanta' last='United FC'] academy. Josh is a leader for his team in his voice and his actions. He reads the game and can recognize dangerous situations before they start. He also has the athleticism to match up 1v1 against opposing #9s. He can cover the space in behind with his speed and is not afraid of 50-50s and tackles. Josh can also use his feet with the ball. He can break lines of pressure and play diagonal passes to weak side wingers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Josh has been called up to USYNT U15 and U16 camps and is a player that will only get better as he grows and matures.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Rocco Bransford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Decatur","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"NASA Top Hat","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e7931fea761"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rocco is a left footed center back for the ECNL club, NASA Top Hat. He has an incredible range of passing with his left foot and can hit long diagonal passes over 50 yards. Defensively he can match up physically with strikers and can cover the space behind the back four. Rocco plays as a center back but can play left back as well and can utilize his left foot in scoring chances. He has been selected to Georgia State ODP and the South Region ODP. He is one to watch for 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Saketh Nimma","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lambert HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"UFA","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e7931fea7fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Saketh is a tall and physically imposing center back for the ECNL club UFA. Standing at 6'5" he has a dominating presence and yet he moves very well and his top speed can keep pace with attackers. He is an intelligent player and has soft feet when in possession of the ball. He can play through and over pressure in building situations. He was selected all conference in the Southeast division of the ECNL in both 2024 and 2025 and has the physical frame to step in to a college back line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21736294/68c9d1487c34879fe4ec3504' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e7931fea98b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["202088"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e7931fea9d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thatcher is a powerful left sided defender for the ECNL team, [program_tooltip program_id='283303' first='Concorde' last='Fire']. He can play as both a center back and as a left back. Thatcher is a tenacious defender who thrives in 1v1 situations and is tough in a tackle. He can push his team forward and overlap as a left back, providing an attacking outlet for his team. He has been instrumental in his team's success. They have won their division the last three years and made it to the ECNL final four in 2024. Thatcher's playing style will make him a mainstay in a lot of college programs as he can match the physicality of the NCAA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Zach Blake","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"101","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"[program_tooltip program_id='283663' first='Inter' last='Atlanta FC']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e7931feaa5a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Zach is a young, up and coming center back who plays for [program_tooltip program_id='283663' first='Inter' last='Atlanta FC']. He is tall and moves very well for his height at his age. He uses his height to dominate in the air both defensively and in attacking set pieces. Zach has good passing technique and can is comfortable as both a 4 and a 5 in the back line. He is very calm under pressure and can break pressure with some intricate passing. His skills have taken him on multiple trials with various MLS Academies. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->