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The Portland Timbers selected Justin Rasmussen out of Grand Canyon University with the club’s first-round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, the 27th pick overall.
Rasmussen was a standout at GCU during the 2021 season, his fifth year with the program. Playing primarily as a midfielder, he tallied nine goals and six assists in 20 games played. Rasmussen is a tall player with a wicked left foot who handled the physicality of the college game well.
With the 27th pick in the 2022 MLS #SuperDraft, we've selected Justin Rasmussen! #RCTID pic.twitter.com/cRb7aIhDqD
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) January 11, 2022
Rasmussen projects more as an attacking-minded fullback at the professional level than a midfielder which is not an uncommon move for players making the jump from college to the pro. If he does wind up settling in as a defender, his instincts to go forward in the attack make him a good fit for Giovanni Savarese’s system, which emphasizes fullbacks’ freedom to get forward and combine in the attack.
A quick snapshot of our Round 1 draft pick, Justin Rasmussen. #RCTID pic.twitter.com/HH46kkdABm
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) January 11, 2022
Rasmussen will likely be included in the training camp roster and will spend the 2022 preseason with the first team. There, he will get a shot to earn a contract offer, whether it is with the first team or with the re-launch of Portland’s reserve side in the MLS Next Pro reserve league.
Thoughts on the pick? Want to see Rasmussen make the squad? Let’s hear it in the comments.