Penn State’s 6 Team Captains For 2024, And Their Most Impressive Qualities

You know Penn State’s six team captains by now, and they’re listed below. James Franklin announced the six team leaders nearly two weeks ago, which came by the vote of their teammates.

In short, they’re six of the most respected veterans on the team. We take a stab at what each player does on the field and off to assert their leadership at Penn State.

Meet Penn State Football’s Six Captains for 2024

QB Drew Allar

He’s unflappable.

Allar at times probably needed more support than he got putting Penn State into optimal plays against top competition.

That’s part of the reason Andy Kotelnicki arrives from Kansas to deliver a sense of offensive identity that can help Allar grow. But through dry spells and frustrating moments last season, Allar carried himself the exact same way at almost every turn.

That says something for a talented quarterback whose rocket right arm is live whether Allar is flat-footed, on the move, leaning, lofting or lasering. He also has an uncommon work ethic that can continue to help him push through the sometimes painful process of maturing as a passer.

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OL Nick Dawkins

Personality.

Hey, the center position is just as much about leadership as it is about snapping the football and blocking.

That’s why veterans move in and out of this position each season, from Michal Menet to Mike Miranda to Hunter Nourzad and now to Dawkins as a fifth-year senior. The 6-4, 298-pounder from Parkland High School has attitude and perspective, and he is also talented enough to see him put together a really good 13 or 14-game season and get an opportunity to play in the NFL.

Penn State is fortunate to be able to pass the torch to a home-grown PA kid to man an important spot as a hub of communication.

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LB Dominic Deluca

The mentality that he belongs.

Not always easy for a kid who was lightly recruited for not ever being the biggest or fastest. But Deluca moves extremely well at the linebacker position and puts himself in position to make plays that can change games.

DeLuca’s physical enough to hold up against the run and moves well enough to be a factor outside the hashes and in pass coverage. That fast first step of his makes the whole package of skills play up, along with a sixth sense for creating turnovers.

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SAF K.J. Winston

The total package.

Penn State has a strong reputation at a number of positions, both in terms of their college and pro-development, and safety is one that’s creeping onto the list. Jaquan Brisker set off a nice chain reaction that has yielded Ji’Ayir Brown and now K.J. Winston who are incredible playmakers on the back end. Their skill sets have all been versatile during their Penn State careers, and those talents have translated to the NFL in the case of Brisker and Brown.

But now with Winston, Penn State has a player who could be the best of the group. He is more classically built for the next level with his length, and he has the best pure coverage skills of the group.

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LB Kobe King

Grown man mentality.

Just like his twin brother, Kobe arrived on campus as a true freshman playing like a 35-year-old man. His mentality of ownership and ability to stay true to his responsibilities on any given play is infectious to teammates, and that’s not even mentioning his role as a communicator and talented playmaker.

He’s a true extension of coordinator, Tom Allen, while also playing with power, speed, attitude, and hustle.

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Punter Riley Thompson

Automatic.

Think about his two key stats from last season: Thompson averaged 45.8 yards per punt, which was fourth-best in the Big Ten, but he ranked No. 6 nationally with a net average of 42.9 yards per punt. The efficiency is wild with his season-high being 56 yards, which is unlike the booming styles of Jordan Stout and others over the past five years who made 70-yard punts look routine.

Thompson makes every yard count and can dial up the right punt at the right time, which is the thing James Franklin values most in his punter.

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