The Chicago Fire selected Austin Berry with the No. 9 pick of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. Berry will likely play centerback with the Fire and could very well win a starting role at the start of the season. He's nothing special with the ball at his feet, but he rarely makes mistakes.
There are only so many players in any given draft that can step in right away and contribute. By most accounts, Berry is one of those players. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound centerback is considered MLS ready and is lauded for his aerial prowess.
Chances are he'll be able to compete for a starting job from Day 1, and at the very least should be able to provide some quality depth. He was a four-year starter at Louisville (he was given a medical red-shirt in and managed to contribute 11 goals and five assists while playing exclusively in the back.
He's already got the size and is one of the better athletes in the draft. The big question is how much of his lack of passing ability haunts him and whether or not his inability to play any other positions holds him back.
For the latest updates on the draft, be sure to follow this StoryStream.