FRISCO, Texas – With the 15th pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, FC Dallas made a move designed to shore up their left fullback position by grabbing Otis Earle, a senior for the University of California-Riverside.
“We were looking for a specific place in the back and Otis was one of the first picks that we had in mind to replace [veteran Jair Benitez, who was waived after the season], and now we are really pleased to be honest with you,” FC Dallas technical director Fernando Clavijo said after the draft. The expectation is that Earle would begin the season as a backup to homegrown player Moises Hernandez.
What makes the drafting of the 22-year-old Londoner interesting is his pedigree. Soccer is in his blood, as he’s the son of NBC broadcaster Robbie Earle, an 18-year veteran of the English Premier League who played for Jamaica in the 1998 World Cup – scoring their first ever goal in the main event.
That’s only a small part of interested Claviojo and head coach Oscar Pareja, though. What really caught the FCD braintrust’s attention are the younger Earle’s physical tools and soccer smarts.
“He’s strong with the ball. He understands, he grew up in a good environment in soccer in England,” Clavijo said. “I think he has a lot of attitude to the game that is going to help us. He’s a guy that can go up and down the field. With his service, can he get a little bit better, probably yes, but he’s a good asset for us.”
For his part, Earle was very glad to be drafted by the Texas club.
“It’s a dream come true,” Earle said. “FC Dallas is a great team. I met with them during the Combine and really liked the coaching staff. I got a good feel for what they want to do, how they want to play and I thought that was a team I could contribute to. I’m really thankful for the opportunity and just ready to get to work now.”
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Pareja’s track record of developing young player like rookies of the year Dillon Powers and Tesho Akindele, as well as homegrown players like Victor Ulloa and Hernandez was a big part of Earle’s excitement.
“That was definitely a massive attraction to the club,” Earle said. “He’s a coach who does well with younger players and likes to play you the right way. To be under a manager who’s as good as he is and has that pedigree will be massive for me and my development.”
Clavijo said the team was happy to have Earle available at the 15th pick as a variety of experts had the left fullback going earlier in the draft.
“We knew that we had a handful with the number 15 pick, but we didn’t know who was going to be there,” the former US international said. “I thought he was going to go earlier. We’re pleased we got a position that we needed. We got an athlete that has a good background in the game and it’s going to help us get better.”
