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Penn State Football: Trio of Nittany Lions named as 2018 team captains

By Barry Leonard Jr.

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 18, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 18, 2017 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Penn State football named three important players as team captains for the 2018 season 

Head Coach James Franklin recently announced Penn State’s captains for the upcoming 2018 season. The team as a whole voted to select its captains, and three players walked away with the honor.

Quarterback Trace McSorley, defensive back Nick Scott and punter Blake Gillikin will lead the Nittany Lions in 2018. “These three have been leaders for us in the locker room, on the field and in the classroom. This team will continue to make great strides under their leadership,” Franklin commented.

Scott and McSorley were both captains during the 2017 season.

McSorley, a senior, enters the 2018 season with touchdown passes in 28-straight games — the longest streak in all of FBS. He’s been the starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions for the last two years and holds several career and single-season school records.  Last year, McSorley became just the second player in Big Ten Conference history to throw for 25 touchdowns and rush for 10 in the same seaosn.

Entering 2018, McSorley’s name will be tossed around for several awards, including the Heisman Trophy.

Also a senior, Nick Scott is penciled in as a starter at safety for the Nittany Lions. He began his Penn State career as a running back, but switched to defensive back before the 2016 season. He’s been a leader on special teams and will get the chance to excel on defense this year.

It’s not often that a punter gets voted as a team captain, as that’s an easy position to overlook. However, they not always receiving the spotlight, Blake Gillikin has been a big key for the Nittany Lions over the past two years. Before he came on the scene in 2016, the Nittany Lions were struggling mightily to find a consistent punter. Gillkin has been one  of the best punters in the Big Ten and has a chance in 2018 to be recognized as one of the best in the nation.

Next: Penn State Early Position Preview: O-Line

Led by its three captains, Penn State will once again have high expectations for the 2018 season. Having been just on the outside of the College Football Playoff in each of the last two years, the Nittany Lions will look to make that dream a reality in 2018.

Penn State opens the 2018 season on September 1 at home against Appalachian State.

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