Ragen, Ybarra Land Position Awards, Join Harrison on All-Big Ten First Team
4/9/2021 2:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- University of Michigan senior Jackson Ragen earned unanimous selection as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and senior Marc Ybarra was named Midfielder of the Year as the conference announced its annual men's soccer awards Friday (April 9).
Ragen and Ybarra were both unanimous selections to the All-Big Ten first team and were joined on the 11-played unit by fellow co-captain Joel Harrison. Bryce Blevins and Quin Rogers both captured Big Ten All-Freshman honors.
The first player in Michigan program history to be named Defensive Player of the Year, Ragen has started in all nine matches this season, anchoring a defense that limits teams to just 7.11 shots per match. Offensively, Ragen has a team-high four goals and is second on the team in points with eight. A 2021 MLS Superdraft pick by the Chicago Fire, Ragen made the All-Big Ten first team for the second straight season.
Ybarra is the first Wolverine to earn Midfielder of the Year since 2013 when Tyler Arnone won the honor. Ybarra is averaging one point per match with two goals and five assists in nine matches. This is Ybarra's first time on the All-Big Ten first team, after being a second-team pick last season and an All-Freshman choice in 2017. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Ybarra is one of the 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award.
Harrison earned his first All-Big Ten award. Playing and starting in seven matches this season, he is part of the stingy defense that has helped produce three shutouts. Harrison is a 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Blevins has played in all nine matches and has made seven starts. He has netted three goals this season, including the overtime winner at Rutgers in March and both goals in a 2-0 win over Ohio State last Wednesday (March 31). Rogers has started in all nine games at midfield and leads the team in shots with 17.
The Big Ten Sportsmanship Award was given to senior midfielder Carlos Tellez. A 2018 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Tellez is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and chipped in a helper in the win over Northwestern.
Michigan is ranked No. 20 in the national poll and is the third seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines host in-state rival Michigan State at 2 p.m. Saturday (April 11) at U-M Soccer Stadium. The game will be televised by Big Ten Network.
2020-21 All-Big Ten Men's Soccer Awards
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year: Victor Bezerra, Indiana*
Big Ten Midfielder of the Year: Marc Ybarra, Michigan
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: Jackson Ragen, Michigan*
Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year: Roman Celentano, Indiana*
Big Ten Freshman of the Year: Laurence Wootton, Ohio State
Big Ten Coach of the Year: Todd Yeagley, Indiana
All-Big Ten First Team
Victor Bezerra, F, Indiana*
Ugo Achara Jr., F, Northwestern
Danny Bloyou, F, Penn State
Marc Ybarra, MF, Michigan*
Laurence Wootton, MF, Ohio State
Pierre Reedy, MF, Penn State
Spencer Glass, D, Indiana
Joel Harrison, D, Michigan
Jackson Ragen, D, Michigan*
Brandon Hackenberg, D, Penn State
Roman Celentano, GK, Indiana*
All-Big Ten Second Team
Paul Bin, F, Maryland
Farai Mutatu, F, Michigan State
Ritchie Barry, F, Rutgers
Herbert Endeley, MF, Indiana
Ben Bender, MF, Maryland
Jack Beck, MF, Michigan State
Seth Kuhn, MF, Penn State
Daniel Munie, D, Indiana
Brett St. Martin, D, Maryland
Nick Stone, D, Michigan State
Kris Shakes, GK, Penn State
Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Joey Maher, Indiana*
Ben Bender, Maryland
Jacen Russell-Rowe, Maryland
Bryce Blevins, Michigan
Quin Rogers, Michigan
Jack Zugay, Michigan State
Rom Brown, Northwestern
Parker Grinstead, Ohio State
Laurence Wootton, Ohio State*
Peter Mangione, Penn State*
Tim Bielic, Wisconsin*
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Spencer Glass, Indiana
Mike Heitzmann, Maryland
Carlos Tellez, Michigan
Isiah Handspike, Michigan State
Max Silberg, Northwestern
Mitch Bergman, Ohio State
Nicholas Rieple, Penn State
Tim Bielic, Wisconsin
* Unanimous selection
