Positive attitude is clearly a big part of PDA defender Scott Keogh’s success.

The class of 2010 standout is happy to play in the back despite attacking players garnering perhaps more attention. He also is finding the college recruiting process to be enjoyable, whereas some of his peers just wish they could get it over with.

Keogh is a rugged center back with a good sense of positioning. He plays for the New Jersey club’s U18 Academy team under coaches George Nazario and John Murphy.

Part of why he is enjoying the college search may be the choices available to him as a top-level student.

“I’ve done well in high school. My parents encouraged me to keep focused on academics so that if something, God forbid, happens with an injury, I can be in good position for myself,” he said. “I’ve actually enjoyed the college process. I didn’t go anywhere for spring break but I stayed around and visited a few schools. A lot of people complain about it being stressful and tiring, but I’ve enjoyed it. I like getting out and seeing new places and I’ve liked all the places I’ve visited.”

Among those places thus far are Ivy League schools Princeton, Harvard, Yale and Penn, plus Big East program Georgetown.

Keogh is also happy to labor in virtually anonymity in the back line, in part because he knows just how important the position really is.

“I prefer playing in the back,” Keogh said. “I love watching the EPL, basically it’s all I watch. I’ve grown up, watching games with Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell and I try to play in that way, to be a big domineering, simple and traditional British center back.

“Everyone loves the flashy player, like Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, but we have the best job because we have to deal with those types of players. Defenders have to have a lot of intelligence and athleticism. Anyone who plays that position has to read the field well. You have to keep the team organized and you have to be able to get stuck in hard and win a lot of balls in the air.  It’s not as glamorous as being a striker or a winger and taking people on, but it’s one of the most important roles on the field.”

Keogh said he has gained a lot from various coaches over the years, and learned a lot about individual defensive technique plus team defending and organization. He also finds the USSF Development Academy, in which he and his PDA teammates advanced to the national U16 finals last summer, to be a good setup.

“I was surprised at how good the whole thing was because it was so new,” he said. “But it’s been a great experience for my two years and since we are a team lucky enough to be playing up at U18, I’ll get to play in it for three years.”

And he’ll stay positive all the way through.

Other top upperclassmen from New Jersey include Johnny Agudelo, Johan Hernandez, Jonathan Aguirre, Rafael Diaz and Hunter Gorskie.