Greenville, S.C. – For the second consecutive season, former Furman men's soccer standout Walker Zimmerman has been selected the Defender of the Year for Major League Soccer (MLS), the league announced today.

Playing for Nashville SC, Zimmerman helped lead a defensive unit that tied for first in Major League Soccer with a 0.97 GAA and compiled a league-leading 13 shutouts. He scored three goals and a career high two assists in 25 appearances and 22 starts.

Zimmerman has previously been a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year in 2019 (with Los Angeles Football Club) and 2016 (FC Dallas). He was a starter in the 2021 MLS All-Star Game against the Liga MX All-Stars.

The Lawrenceville, Ga., native has also been a part of the U.S. national team's back line for the past few seasons. He captained this year's Concacaf Gold Cup winning team and has started in each of the last five FIFA World Cup qualifying games.

Zimmerman played two seasons for the Paladins, recording 11 goals and five assists, under head coach Doug Allison and helped the program to a 26-8-7 record during his time in Greenville.

He netted five goals and added two assists while starting all 22 games for Furman in 2011. Zimmerman was named to College Soccer News and Soccer America's Freshman All-America First Team squads while garnering Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and first team all-league honors as the Paladins posted a 14-4-4 record and earned an NCAA berth. In 2012, Zimmerman played in and started 17 games while scoring six goals and adding three assists. He captured College Soccer News First Team and NSCAA Second Team All-America honors after leading the Paladins to a 12-4-3 record and captured first team All-SoCon accolades.

He was tabbed as the No. 7 pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas.