ROSEMONT, Ill. – Penn State men's soccer student-athletes Liam Butts, Brandon Hackenberg and Pierre Reedy were picked as Big Ten Players to Watch as announced by the conference office Thursday afternoon.
Butts, a sophomore from Lawrenceville, Ga., earns preseason honors for the first time in his career. The forward was a first-team All-Big Ten honoree, a United Soccer Coaches All-North Region second-team honoree, and a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team a season ago after leading the Nittany Lions with nine goals, including five game-winners, the most in the conference. This preseason, Butts has been named to the MAC Hermann Watch List and is considered a second-team Preseason Best XI and 23rd-ranked player by Top Drawer Soccer.
Hackenberg, a redshirt senior from Palmyra, Va., earns preseason honors for the second-straight season. The defender and team captain was a first-team All-Big Ten honoree and United Soccer Coaches All-North Region third-team honoree a season ago, starting all but one game on the backline and contributing to six shutouts. This preseason, Hackenberg is considered a third-team Preseason Best XI and 31st-ranked player by Top Drawer Soccer. Hackenberg was also drafted 22nd overall in the first round of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft to Orlando City SC.
Reedy, a redshirt senior from Kutztown, Pa., earns preseason honors for the second-straight season and third time in his career. The midfielder and team captain returned to the pitch in 2019 after missing the previous two seasons due to injury. Reedy had four assists last season in 16 games.
Indiana was unanimously selected as the league's preseason favorite by the nine men's soccer coaches. The Nittany Lions, the conference runner-up from 2019, are picked to finish third, according to the poll.
Butts, Hackenberg, Reedy and the 2020-21 squad open the season under third-year head coach Jeff Cook on Friday, Feb. 19 against No. 21 Maryland in Holuba Hall.
Under current Big Ten guidelines, no the general public is not permitted at Penn State men's soccer home games this season.
2020-21 Big Ten Men's Soccer Players to Watch List
Victor Bezerra, So., F, Indiana
Spencer Glass, Sr., D, Indiana
Daniel Munie, So., D, Indiana
Paul Bin, Sr., F, Maryland
Eric Matzelevich, Sr., F, Maryland
Brett St. Martin, Jr., D, Maryland
Umar Farouk Osman, Sr., D/M, Michigan
Jackson Ragen, Sr., D, Michigan
Marc Ybarra, Sr., M, Michigan
Jack Beck, Jr., M, Michigan State
Michael Miller, Sr., M, Michigan State
Farai Mutatu, Jr., F, Michigan State
Ugo Achara Jr., So., F, Northwestern
Rom Brown, Fr., M, Northwestern
Bardia Kimiavi, Jr., M, Northwestern
Matteo Bennati, Sr., M, Ohio State
Devyn Etling, Jr., F, Ohio State
Joshua Jackson-Ketchup, Sr., Ohio State
Liam Butts, So., F, Penn State
Brandon Hackenberg, Sr., D, Penn State
Pierre Reedy, Sr., M, Penn State
Pablo Ávila, Jr., M, Rutgers
Hugo LeGuennec, So., D, Rutgers
Jackson Temple, So., M, Rutgers
Andrew Akindele, Jr., F, Wisconsin
Zach Klancnik, Sr., D, Wisconsin
Sven Kleinhans, Grad., GK, Wisconsin
2020-21 Big Ten Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
- Indiana*
- Maryland
- Penn State
- Michigan
- Michigan State
- Northwestern
- Rutgers
- Wisconsin
- Ohio State
* - unanimous selection