ICYMI: Penn State football announces 2023 captains

The Penn State football team has announced which players will serve as the team captains during the 2023 season. Leadership is huge this season when you stop and consider that the team is replacing each captain from the 2022 Nittany Lions. Last season the team captains were Jonathan Sutherland, PJ Mustipher, Ji’Ayir Brown, Sean Clifford, Juice Scruggs, and Chris Stoll now each of those players is off to focus on their pro careers. It was important for James Franklin and his coaching staff to pick team captains that are willing to hold their teammates accountable and be vocal leaders in the locker room.

ICYMI: Penn State football announces 2023 captains

For the 2023 season, Penn State will be represented by Keaton Ellis, Olu Fashanu, Adisa Isaac, Dominic Deluca, Malick Meiga, and Theo Johnson as team captains this fall. The common denominator between all of these players is that they’ve been part of the program for three to four years and have an important role on the team this season.

Introducing Our 2023 @PennStateFball Team Captains: pic.twitter.com/HFNiaWmWof

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) August 19, 2023

For Keaton Ellis, replacing a player like Ji’Ayir Brown is no small task, but if anyone can fill his shoes it’s Ellis. He’s been with the program since the 2019 season and he will be the vocal leader of the secondary. Adversity is something that defensive end Adisa Isaac has seen throughout his career after missing the entire 2021 season. But, he had a tremendous bounce-back year last season and he has big expectations for 2023. After the Rose Bowl, LB Dominic Deluca was put on scholarship, and now he is asked to be in a leadership role for this upcoming season. Malick Meiga has been a special teams ace for the Nittany Lions for several seasons now, and Theo Johnson looks to burst onto the scene this fall.

Should fans be concerned with no sophomore captain?

To become a captain of the Penn State football team you have to earn that right and show the coaching staff proof that you are willing and able to have difficult conversations with your teammates. As a player, you also must be in the program for a few years to what are effective leadership ways. Those who are concerned with the team captains, not including Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, or Abdul Carter are overthinking the situation. These are true sophomores who still need to grow into those leadership roles, in 2024 we will see them step up in that way, but for now, they should continue to observe and continue to lead from within their position groups.

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