The Portland Timbers selected Justin Rasmussen out of Grand Canyon University with the club’s first-round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, the 27th pick overall.
Rasmussen was a standout at GCU during the 2021 season, his fifth year with the program. Playing primarily as a midfielder, he tallied nine goals and six assists in 20 games played. Rasmussen is a tall player with a wicked left foot who handled the physicality of the college game well.
Rasmussen projects more as an attacking-minded fullback at the professional level than a midfielder which is not an uncommon move for players making the jump from college to the pro.