2024 Penn State Football Captains Announced

The 2024 Penn State Nittany Lions football captains have been announced. Six captains are earning this role due to their leadership on and off the field. Here is a look at the six Nittany Lions that will attempt to lead their team into the newly formed College Football Playoffs.

2024 Penn State Captains

The six players were announced by Head Coach, James Franklin over the weekend. This comes just two weeks out from the start of the 2024 college football season for Penn State. While some fans may question the absence of players, these athletes have been demonstrating leadership for this team. Here are the six 2024 Penn State captains.

Dominic Deluca

Linebacker Dominic Deluca is heading into his fourth year with the Nittany Lions. In the spring of 2023, during the conclusion of practices, Deluca was named captain. He is primarily a special teams player but earned the number 0 through his leadership. According to Penn State Athletics, in 2023, Deluca earned the team’s John Bruno Memorial Award. This recognizes Penn State’s outstanding special teams player.

In his previous three years, the linebacker has recorded 58 total tackles, 35 solo, two sacks, and 6.5 tackles for loss, according to Sports Reference. He has also had two interceptions, both in 2023, and one being a pick-six. Deluca may not be the most well-known linebacker on the Nittany Lions, but he is a leader earning his role as captain in 2024.

Kevin Winston Jr.

Penn State safety, Kevin Winston Jr., is heading into just his third year with the team and already earning captain. In the 2023 season, Winston earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media and coaches, according to Penn State Athletics. Winston, in just his second year, started in all 13 games for the Nittany Lions.

In the past two seasons, Winston has had 77 total tackles, 45 solo, and 3.5 tackles for loss, according to Sports Reference. He also has one interception and two fumble recoveries. Winston is a young player already earning his role as captain.

Drew Allar

Quarterback Drew Allar is heading into his second season as a starter and third season with the Nittany Lions. As the quarterback, being a leader may be an expectation, but one still must earn it. This will be a big year for Allar, as he tries to lead his team to the College Football Playoffs, but being a captain shows the trust in him. In his first year starting in 2023, Allar set a national record for 311 career receptions without an interception. According to Penn State Athletics, this record breaks the one previously set by Robert Griffin III. This is the same year where he joined Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker as the only FBS quarterbacks ever to throw 25+ touchdown passes and 2 or less interceptions in one season. Hooker accomplished this in 2022.

In two seasons, Allar completed 268 passes for 2,975 yards and 29 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. He has only thrown two interceptions. Allar is a smart quarterback. Even if he throws an incompletion, he makes sure it is a safe one, avoiding turnovers. This was a key success in 2023 that hopefully continues in 2024.

Kobe King

Another 2024 Penn State linebacker to earn captain is Kobe King. This is King’s fourth season with the Nittany Lions, only playing in four games in 2021, his true freshman season. According to Penn State Athletics, King earned All-Big Ten honorable mention from the coaches and media. This is now a year for King to truly step up as a leader.

In the past three seasons, King has had 103 total tackles, 60 solo, ten tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks, according to Sports Reference. He has also had two fumble recoveries, one being returned for a touchdown. This will be King’s fourth season and he has the chance to be a leader on the defense.

Nick Dawkins

Nick Dawkins is the one offensive lineman to earn team captain for the 2024 season. Dawkins is a player who works hard every year and the coaches know it. During his true freshman season in 2020, Dawkins was named the coaching staff’s Developmental Squad Offensive Player of the year, according to Penn State Athletics. In 2023, the offensive lineman won the Penn State Public Servive Award. Heading into his fifth year, Dawkins is now a team captain.

Each year Dawkins has seen more and more time on the field. He went from 2022 where he appeared in two games to 2023 where he appeared in all 13 teams on offense and special teams. Now with another year playing, the offensive lineman should be able to block well for Allar, and help be a leader on this offense.

Riley Thompson

Punter Riley Thompson is the sixth and final 2024 Penn State player to earn captain this season. Thompson has only been with Penn State for one yer, playing at Florida Atlantic from 2019-2022. Thompson is a captain representing the special teams unit this year. In the postseason of 2023, Thompson earned All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media, according to Penn State Athletics.

In 2023, Thompson punted the ball 50 times in 13 games averaging 45.8 yards per punt, according to Sports Reference. While the hope is always that the punter is not on the field due to scoring plays, Thompson is an important player, and now a team captain. Hopefully for Thompson and the Nittany Lions, he can set up the defense well, pushing opposing teams far onto their own side of the field.

The 2024 season for Penn State will begin Saturday August 31st against West Virginia.