Kyle Venter, Junior, Defender, New Mexico
Overview:
Kyle Venter, even for a defender, does not get the credit he deserves for the success New Mexico has had recently. As a redshirt freshman in 2010, the 6-3 center back earned 19 starts and became a staple in the backline.
As a sophomore Venter took his game to the next level defensively and offensively. On the defensive end Venter continued to use his size and strength to keep the opposition at bay. Offensively, the big man was allowed a little more freedom to come up on set pieces and other occasions. He only took 21 shots on the season, but five of them hit the back of the net.
Final Projection:
Venter should be one of the better center backs available in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft if he opts to leave school a year early. He could still stand to fill in his 6-3 frame a little bit more, but that will come with time. He is pretty tough, but adding a little more bulk will help tremendously at the next level.
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