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There was no shortage of candidates to pick from. But Penn State has already found its captains.
Following a vote by the players at the start of spring practice, the Nittany Lions announced Wednesday that quarterback Trace McSorley (offense), linebacker Jason Cabinda (defense) and safety Nick Scott (special teams) will serve as captains for 2017.
“These three young men have been leaders in our program, on and off the field,” Lions coach James Franklin said in a team release. “They live our four core values and act with the program’s best interest in mind. Our team is in good hands with these guys.”
Under Franklin, the Lions have also used individual game captains at times, allowing seniors and others to represent the team at midfield at the coin toss.
As it is, all three of the new captains arrived on campus back in 2014 — Franklin’s first season in Happy Valley. Cabinda has senior eligibility while McSorley and Scott are both redshirt juniors.
Cabinda and Scott both initially committed to former Bill O’Brien before he left for the NFL on New Year’s Eve in 2013. McSorley initially pledged to play for Franklin at Vanderbilt before following him to Penn State.
McSorley will be entering his second season as the Lions’ starter after a record-setting sophomore campaign. He was named MVP of the Big Ten championship game after rallying the team from three scores down to reach the Rose Bowl.
For Cabinda, it will be his third year as a starter, returning from a thumb injury last fall to help key an upset of Ohio State with 13 tackles and a sack on the Buckeyes’ final drive.
Originally a running back, Scott made the move to safety a year ago. But his biggest impact has come on special teams, where he finished second on the team in tackles on returns. He has also returned some kicks himself in the past.
Franklin’s Hazleton stop
After a one-year hiatus, Penn State’s Coaches’ Caravan is back on the road this spring. Once again, it will be making a stop in Luzerne County.
Both Franklin and athletic director Sandy Barbour are scheduled to be on hand for a luncheon at Penn State Hazleton from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on May 9. The event will be held inside the campus’ Caccese Gymnasium — the same spot that O’Brien visited in the first year of the tour back in 2012.
Those interested in attending can register online at alumni.psu.edu/events/coachescaravan. Tickets for the general public cost $45 while kids ages 6-18 get in for 15. There is no cost for children ages 5 and under.
The fee for Nittany Lion Club members is $30, with one guest also able to register at the reduced rate. If space permits on the day of the event, walk-ins will be accepted for an additional $10 per ticket.
After registering, attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions for Franklin to be answered at the luncheon.
Northeastern Pennsylvania has been a mainstay in this, the fifth year of the Caravan. Franklin and other coaches have previously stopped in Wilkes-Barre at the F.M. Kirby Center and Best Western Plus Genetti Hotel and Conference Center, as well as spots in Dickson City and Peckville.
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