When it comes to center-back hype around the Philadelphia Union, usually it’s Mark McKenzie’s name on the tip of everyone’s tongue.
But the Homegrown Player is often partnering with Jack Elliott, and head coach Jim Curtin feels the 25-year-old SuperDraft pick carries value that resembles the US men’s national team and European transfer hopeful.
Confidently, Curtin said Monday via video conference call that Elliott "has the talent and quality to play in any league in the world." It’s high praise for the Englishman who originally entered MLS as the 77th overall pick (fourth round) in the 2017 SuperDraft out of West Virginia University.
“His passing I think is as good as any center back in our league, that's why you've seen us play him as a 6, where he played in college – he's that comfortable on the ball,” Curtin said, rattling off the skillset Elliott brings. “And just overall a great player. Again, I said it I think a couple weeks back, I actually believe you could plug Jack in at any position. You could play him as a 6, you could play him as a 10, you could throw him up top and he would get goals and he'd find a way because he's that good with his technique and his quality.”
But it wasn’t always this way, Curtin observed, even if Elliott already has five goals and one assist in 87 appearances in three seasons and change. He’s evolved from a lanky center back to someone with deceptive speed and confidence in the challenge.
“When you look at him, he has the long legs and oftentimes people think that that equates to not being fast, but when Jack opens up and runs, and our data shows this, he's as fast as any of the strikers in our league, he can really cover ground,” Curtin said. “Some of the tackles he makes, the last-ditch effort slide tackles to make a block, because he is so long, his ability to read the game and see things early, step in – he's become so much more aggressive.
“I think in his first two years his tendency was to drop and drop deeper, which is OK, but the next level now is being brave to step over midfield and be 1-v-1 against some of these great attackers and not allow them to turn and put out fires before they become dangerous. He's really grown a lot.”
Asked about his own growth, Elliott pointed to 1-v-1 defending, positioning and leadership qualities. He stresses that he’s not done growing yet, and also reflected on the SuperDraft days when he was an unheralded prospect out of West Virginia.
Elliott’s draft class included Atlanta United center back Miles Robinson and Colorado Rapids center back Lalas Abubakar, though few defenders beyond that are still in the league. He remembers the pre-draft hype, and carries a small chip on his shoulder from it.
Elliott signed a contract extension through 2021 with club option for 2022 two springs ago, and also got his green card last February to no longer occupy an international roster slot. Whatever comes next for Elliott, he won't forget the pathway.
“From being at the Combine and obviously there's hype around certain people and getting there and playing the first few games and realizing that they're not all that,” Elliott said. “There wasn't that hype for me, and I just keep improving and playing my game and playing well. I think that helps me to feel motivated to do better and better and really make a name for myself.”
