Aug 183 min read

Dominic DeLuca, 5 Others Selected as Captains for Penn State

Penn State Captains — © Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State head coach James Franklin announced his captains for the 2024 season. Elected to his second consecutive season as captain, redshirt junior special teams ace Dominic DeLuca will anchor the captains along with junior quarterback Drew Allar, redshirt senior offensive lineman Nick Dawkins, redshirt junior linebacker Dominic DeLuca, redshirt junior linebackerKobe King, junior punter Riley Thompson and junior safety Kevin Winston Jr.

Here is a look at each of Penn State’s 2024 Captains:

Dominic DeLuca, LB

DeLuca served as team captain in 2023 and was recognized by the staff for his exceptional special teams play by being awarded the No. 0 jersey. DeLuca has appeared in 29 career games after starting his career as a run-on and earned a scholarship in 2022. DeLuca has tallied 58 tackles (35 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and 2 blocked punts in his career.

Drew Allar, QB

Allar enters the 2024 season being named to the Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Manning Award and Maxwell Award Watch Lists. Allar earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten Conference honors from the coaches and media in 2023.

Allar completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,631 yards and 25 touchdowns (2 interceptions), setting the Penn State season record for lowest interception percentage (0.51). Allar broke former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III's record (209 attempts in 2008) of most passing attempts without an interception with 311 attempts.

Nick Dawkins, OL

Dawkins was named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List ahead of the 2024 season after receiving Penn State’s Public Service Award in 2023. Dawkins has appeared in 26 games at Penn State and earned Academic All-Big Ten Honors. Dawkins was an integral part of an offensive line unit that helped Penn State to tally at least 400 yards in six games, including a season-best 586 yards at Michigan State.

Kobe King, LB

King was named to the Butkus Award Watch List after earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention from the coaches and media in 2023. King has appeared in 30 career games, making 11 starts, with 103 tackles (60 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 3 pass breakups in his Penn State career.

King led Big Ten linebackers with an 85.3 run defense grade, which was ninth among FBS linebackers according to Pro Football Focus.

Riley Thompson, Punter

Thompson was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List after being voted All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the coaches and media. Last season, Thompson punted 50 times, averaging 45.8 yards, with 17 punts inside the 20 and 8 inside the 10.

Thompson’s 45.8 punt average ranked fourth in the Big Ten. As a team Penn State finished sixth in the nation and second in the Big Ten with a 42.9 net punt average.

Kevin Winston Jr., Safety

Winston was named to the Bednarik Award Watch List after being voted by the coaches and media as an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2023. Last season, Winston started at safety in all 13 games and led all Penn State defenders with 60 tackles (35 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, an interception and 5 pass breakups. Winston’s advanced metrics graded by PFF have him among the nation’s elite. Winston allowed a 50 completion percentage and forced 4 incompletions when targeted, receiving an 86.8 coverage grade, ranking fourth among Big Ten safeties and in the top 15 nationally among safeties. Winston’s grades in run defense were also exceptional with a 90.6 run defense grade. The 90.6 run grade led all Big Ten defenders and was third nationally among safeties.