Penn State names 2014 captains

Penn State announced Wednesday seven game captains for the 2014 football season. Head coach James Franklin chose two players from offense, two from defense and three from special teams to represent the Nittany Lions.

"The players and the coaches voted on the team captains and these players have clearly earned the respect of their teammates and coaches," Franklin said. "We are trying to promote and develop leadership throughout the entire program and I'm really excited about the role our captains will have throughout the season."

The seven captains are as follows:

Offense

- QB Christian Hackenberg*

- OG MIles Dieffenbach

Defense

- DE C.J. Olaniyan

- LB Mike Hull

Special team

- K Sam Ficken

- DB Jesse Della Valle

- DB Ryan Keiser

* Hackenberg is the first sophomore captain in Penn State history. He is the youngest Nittany Lion captain since freshman John Chuckran held the same title in 1944.