Entering the week of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, there were two players that Real Salt Lake had realistic hopes of having available when they picked 13th overall. The only question was which of the two they would choose if both were available. As it turned out, both were available with the 13th pick and RSL opted to select right back Reagan Dunk from the University of Denver, but RSL General Manager Craig Waibel and Head Coach Jeff Cassar were thrilled to find that University of Washington center back Justin Schmidt was still on the board when the 35th pick came up in the second round.
“They are two guys we came in knowing we had a lot of interest in,” Waibel said. “We wanted them when we came here and some days it works out. We’re really excited for what both of them can bring.”
In Dunk, RSL has a right back that proved that he can get the job done on the defensive end, as his Denver squad had one of the top defenses in the country over the last two years. However, he can also contribute to the attack, earning 13 assists in those two years as Denver went unbeaten heading into the NCAA Tournament both years. Evidence of his importance to those tremendous seasons comes in his recognition as a MAC-Hermann Trophy Semifinalist in both years.
“He’s a line-to-line guy with a great engine. His work ethic is off the charts,” Waibel said. “Every time we watched him, he impressed us.”
Schmidt, meanwhile, is a no-nonsense center back who can also play with the ball at his feet. With nine goals and 19 assists in four years at Washington, where he was coached by Waibel as a freshman in 2013.
“He’s physically ready to go, it’s just a matter of watching him transition and see how far we can take him,” Waibel said.
To Cassar, that familiarity with Waibel on and off the field will be a big boost for his transition to the professional level. It also provided the club with a different view of the player, knowing first-hand already what Schmidt was like in training and in the locker room.
“It’s always nice to be familiar with the players that you draft because there is so much unknown,” Cassar said.
At the end of the draft, RSL walked out happy, knowing they brought in two players who fit in with the club’s long-term plans. With RSL Assistant Coach Tyrone Marshall and Real Monarchs Head Coach Mike Petke set to take the two players under their wings, they also have plenty of resources to learn from.
“Both of them have a lot of games to play. The coaching staff is built to progress these guys along. It’s a matter of how much they pick up and how much we can offer,” Waibel said. “I think it’s the right environment for both of these guys.”
While both Dunk and Schmidt were noticeably excited on the phone after the draft, so too were Waibel, Cassar and the rest of the RSL technical staff on hand.
“We ended up with two really talented young men with promising futures. They’ve got good size, good strength, good speed,” Cassar said. “These are two players that we really, really wanted when the draft started, so we’re really excited to have them join our program.”
Dunk and Schmidt are both expected with Real Salt Lake when the Claret-and-Cobalt open training camp in Casa Grande, Arizona, on January 23.
