Topics

More

Penn State Football Announces Captains For 2020 Season

Penn State football officially announced its captains for the 2020 season early Friday evening, the team shared in a press release. 

The captains, in order of seniority, are listed below:

  • Michal Menet (redshirt senior, offensive lineman)
  • Shaka Toney (redshirt senior, defensive end)
  • Lamont Wade (senior, safety)
  • Sean Clifford (redshirt junior, quarterback)
  • Jonathan Sutherland (redshirt junior, safety)
  • Pat Freiermuth (junior, tight end
  • Jesse Luketa (junior, linebacker) 
  • Jordan Stout (junior, kicker) 

Menet, Sutherland, Clifford, and Freiermuth are all returning captains for the second straight season.

Menet started all games last season (13) at center, and has made 25 career starts upon entering the 2020 season. The Birdsboro, Pennsylvania native was recently nominated to the Rimington Trophy Watch List. At last season’s team awards banquet, Menet was awarded the Dick Maginnis Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding offensive lineman.

Sutherland, a special teams captain, blocked two punts against Idaho during the 2019 season. It marked the first time since Penn State blocked two punts in a game since 2000 versus Louisiana Tech. The Ottawa native is one of two FBS players with multiple blocked kicks in the 2019 season. 

Clifford’s first season as starting quarterback in 2019 ended with 189 passes for 2,654 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Cincinnati native is ranked third in the Big Ten in passing touchdowns, yards per completion (14.04, and yards per attempt (8.32). Clifford comes into the 2020 season with 13th all-time 25 career passing touchdowns, 18th all-time with 194 career completions and ninth all-time with 399 rushing yards by a quarterback.

Freiermuth was named AP and Athlon Sports Preseason first-team All-American entering the 2020 season. The Massachusetts native enters the 2020 season after putting up 43 grabs for 507 yards and seven touchdowns. in 2019 Freiermuth’s seven touchdown catches ranks fourth among FBS tight ends and seventh in the Big Ten.

Toney was selected to the All-Big Ten second team by the media and was named a Phil Steele All-Big Ten third team selection after starting all games in the 2019 season. Last season the Philadelphia native registered 41 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, a pass breakup, and a blocked kick last season.

Wade made 13 starts at safety during the 2019 season, and was named as an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media the same year. Wade racked up 67 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in last season’s campaign. 

Luketa put up 24 tackles, a half-tackle for loss and four pass breakups in 13 games, including two starts during the 2019 season. Stout, who joined the program just last season, was the first Penn State kicker with multiple 50-yard field goals in a season.

This is the second year in a row where Penn State has more than three captains (offense, defense, and special teams), breaking usual tradition. After the success of last season, it appears this may continue to be implemented.

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Acacia Aster Broder

Acacia is a junior from Philadelphia majoring in digital and print journalism with a sports certificate. Although she considers herself a Philadelphian at heart, she is a Toronto and Seattle sports fan. Follow her on Twitter @acaciaaster or Instagram @acaciaastr for hockey takes and mediocre analysis.

‘A New Wave Of Sports & Media’: Katie Feeney Continues To Pave Way For Women In Sports

“Little did I know I was at the forefront in the world of social media and sports.”

More Than Man’s Best Friend: Founder of Happy Valley Doodles Finding Joy In Giving Back

“I think when you do something that comes from your heart, it’s easy to be successful.”

‘It’s Arguably The Most Attractive Running Backs Job In The Country’: Penn State’s Duo Gives Prospective New Coach Plenty To Work With

Despite losing running back coach Ja’Juan Seider, James Franklin is confident in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen and the top coaches they can attract.

113kFollowers
164kFollowers
63.7kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Sign up for our Newsletter

Other posts by Acacia

Grant Ament Named PLL’s Attackman Of The Year

Penn State men’s lacrosse legend Grant Ament took home some serious hardware this weekend when he was named the Premier Lacrosse League’s Attackman of the Year.

CATA To Resume Penn State Football Gameday Shuttles

UHS Offering Free COVID-19 Vaccines Three Days A Week