Jacob Graiber has been named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List for 2021.

Graiber is the reigning two-time Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and a United Soccer Coaches All-Region selection.  He is an athletic and academic All-American, and is on the watch list for the second straight year.

"Jacob is very well-deserving of this accolade," head coach Sean Phillips said.  "He has been a model of high level consistency since he joined our starting lineup in 2017, who wants nothing more than to help this team reach its potential."

Graiber has helped the Flames earn three Horizon League trophies.  He has started every match of his career, has tallied three game-winning goals, and is averaging over 91 minutes per match for his career.

Graiber gives UIC a Hermann Trophy contender for the third straight year.  He is the program's second player to be considered in two seasons.  Jesus Perez was named to the Watch List prior to the 2019 season.  Jovan Bubonja was a two-time Watch List selection and was a semifinalist in 2008.

He is joined on the 44-member watch list by 11 of last year's semifinalists and two finalists.  Competition for the award figures to be extremely tight, as many of those under consideration are, like Graiber, returning for a fifth year of eligibility which was granted due to Covid-19.  Graiber will play the 2021 season as a graduate student in UIC's College of Business Administration.  He earned his undergraduate degree in May 2020 on time with his academic class.

The Hermann Trophy is presented annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the top men's collegiate soccer player in the country.  The Watch List is compiled before each season by a nominating committee.  After the regular season ends, the committee will narrow the field to 15 semifinalists.  Coaches across the country will vote on that list, and the top three vote-getters will be named finalists.

The 2021 Hermann Trophy will be presented to the nation's top college soccer player in January 2022.