Michael Mauti loves to prove the doubters wrong, and he continued to do just that Thursday with his election as special teams captain of the New Orleans Saints for the 2016 season.

Saints 2016 Captains
Offense: @drewbrees, @MaxUnger60
Defense: @JLaurinaitis55, @camjordan94
Special Teams: @Michael_Mauti

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 8, 2016

Mauti joins incumbent captains — quarterback Drew Brees and defensive end Cameron Jordan — as well as center Max Unger and former Ohio State standout linebacker James Laurinaitis in filling leadership roles for Sean Patyon’s Saints.

Mauti returned to his hometown of New Orleans last season after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The 26-year-old solidified his standing with the Saints on a beautiful punt-block touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons. He recorded 52 total tackles over the course of his first three seasons in the league and should see the field with even more regularity this fall.

Mauti and Michael Zordich cemented themselves among the all-time Penn State greats thanks to their program-saving leadership as seniors in 2012. Clearly, Mauti’s new teammates think just as highly of him and believe he’ll make a difference as New Orleans hopes to secure a playoff spot out of the NFC South for the first time since 2014.