Ethan Ratke Wins 2021 Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place Kicker Award

CHICAGO – James Madison football senior Ethan Ratke has been named the 2021 winner of the Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place Kicker Award, which honors the top kicker in the Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior college.

Ratke, who was selected from over 750 colleges and universities across the divisions, will go down as the NCAA's all-time leader in field goals and scoring by a kicker.

"Our selection committee is so pleased to acknowledge the record-breaking season and career of Ethan Ratke," Fred Mitchell said. "By all accounts, Ratke has been a reliable and unselfish teammate who has contributed mightily to the success of the James Madison football program. We welcome him to the esteemed fraternity of the previous recipients of this national award, which goes to the best kicker among over 750 colleges."

A 2020 All-American and two-time Colonial Athletic Association Special Teams Player of the Year, Ratke re-wrote the record books, as he's made 101 career field goals and scored 536 points. He's the only kicker in college football history to convert 100 field goals and tally 500 points.

In addition to his NCAA records, he ranks second in FCS history in scoring by any player, needing just nine more points to surpass Villanova's Brian Westbrook for the subdivision's record. Ratke is also 13th in career scoring by any player at any division, having already passed the FBS record holder. He is just 13 points shy of the NCAA's all-time top 10.

This season, Ratke broke his own JMU and CAA single-season record with 29 field goals on 32 attempts for 90.6% conversion rate. His 29 makes is tied for the FCS single-season record. He's also 57-of-58 extra points to tally 144 points in 2021.

Nationally, he leads the FCS in field goals per game (2.42) and scoring (12.0) while ranking fourth in field-goal percentage (90.6%). His 29 field goals also leads all college players in any division this fall.

Ratke is the first JMU winner of the Fred Mitchell Award, which began in 2009. Ratke is the fourth FCS winner, joining the likes of Northern Arizona's Luis Aguilar (2019), Eastern Washington's Roldan Alcobendas (2018) and Fordham's Patrick Murray (2012).

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