Crew draft South Florida’s Sweat with 14th pick

Ben Sweat, the Columbus Crew's selection with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, playing with the organization U-20 Junior team in 2011.
Ben Sweat, the Columbus Crew’s selection with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, playing with the organization U-20 Junior team in 2011.

With the 14th pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, the Columbus Crew chose Ben Sweat out of the University of South Florida.

Sweat is an ironman and owns the USF record for all-time games played with 78. He registered three goals and eight assists last season.

He’s a left back who attacks down the flank and is known for his ability to defend from behind. At 6’2″, he’s one of the tallest players on the Crew and plays a position where height is valued. Sweat has the potential to help the Crew win long balls on the outside.

With the addition of Sweat, the Black and Gold now have depth at the left back spot. The team signed expected starter Waylon Francis earlier this offseason, and Tyson Wahl and Agustin Viana can also play the position.

Sweat will likely begin the season as a backup at the position, but has the talent to quickly work his way up head coach Gregg Berhalter’s depth chart.

Sweat’s connection with Columbus goes back to 2011. He was a member of the U-20 Crew Juniors team.

Columbus originally had the fourth-overall pick in this year’s SuperDraft, but traded it to the New England Revolution for Michael Parkhurst. Crew owner Anthony Precourt tweeted the organization would have likely used the fourth pick on Sweat had they retained it.

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