The variety in scope of what it means to be a good defender in this era – where teams are now going back to experimenting with back threes and wing-backs over traditional back fours – means it is more essential for coaches and clubs to find the right fit for how the team sets up. Many teams play out of the back, so the skillset for even the most traditional center back has also changed, with simply being able to clear decisively from your own penalty – while valued – is only one skill of many required.

As with our list of five goalkeepers to watch in the upcoming season, the group below doesn’t make up a definitive list of the top defenders in the USL. They do have intriguing roles to play for the respective teams, however, as the season begins this weekend.