Overview

• Coach Kalen DeBoer announced the four permanent captains via the university’s NIL collective ahead of the Aug. 30 opener at Florida State, with the captains set to take part in the Denny Chimes hand-and-cleat print tradition.
• Quarterback Ty Simpson, recently named the Week 1 starter, earned captain status after team voting, with DeBoer praising his natural leadership and commitment.
• Linebacker Deontae Lawson returns as a captain after ACL surgery ended his 2024 season, choosing a fifth year following a third-team All-SEC campaign.
• Center Parker Brailsford followed DeBoer from Washington and logged 777 snaps with 63 knockdown blocks last season, earning second-team All-America honors.
• Defensive tackle Tim Keenan III, a fifth-year senior, enters a third year as a starter and is regarded as a guiding voice on the defensive line after posting career highs in 2024.