Colorado State University Athletics
Team Selects Captains For Upcoming Season
8/27/2022 3:27:00 PM | Football
Norvell feels group of four is representative of the team
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Saturday was about understanding the mechanism. About how the schedule works on gameday for a Jay Norvell-run program. How and when to stretch. Where to meet with coaches. Who is where and a few extra game situations for good measure.
Â
At the end of the day, it was all about which players on the team were going to lead the squad through the season, and Norvell became a bit emotional when reading off the four captains the players selected.
Â
Earlier in the week, he explained to them it wasn't about who the best players were, or even who always worked the hardest. They had to remember leaders aren't perfect, but the one thing they always have is the team's best interest at heart. They are positive and encouraging. The vote, Novell told them, was to select their teammates who best represented those values.
Â
"We've worked very hard talking about leadership. We've met at it for months, since January, really eight months of leadership meetings twice a week with our group of leaders and just telling them and showing them examples and teaching them what leadership looks like," Norvell said after Saturday's mock game, an annual tradition across the country the week prior to the opener. "Then telling these kids when you vote, we vote for who's worthy. If we have one captain, if we have three captains."
Â
At the end of Saturday's walkthrough, Norvell stood before the team and announced Dequan Jackson, A'Jon Vivens, Jacob Gardner and Paddy Turner as this season's captain. Each player, he explained, had four points to vote with. They could assign them all to one player, or they could divide those points among up to four of their teammates.
Â
Jackson was a team captain last year, and since his arrival in Fort Collins, has been seen as a leader. He was the one player his freshman year who kept his classmates in check, and he's only expanded his influence over the years. Vivens has also become a team leader, not only in the locker room, but in the community and his neighborhoods back home in the Denver area. Gardner is another player with a load of playing experience and the anchor of the offensive line who one could see quickly gained favor within the squad.
Â
The same is true of Turner, but his choice is notable by his circumstances. He has never played a college game, yet he will be the team's punter this season. On top of that, the Australian has only been in the States for about 13 months and in Fort Collins for about eight.
Â
"I think it's a real credit to the kid. I've seen him grow so much in the last year," Norvell said. "Then in the last few months since he's been here, he's had some family members that he's lost, and a lot of kids can go into a shell. We've had a lot of players on the team who have lost family members in the last couple of weeks; it's been a tough summer. But to see him pour himself into his teammates, and I think the team has really responded to that.
Â
"I have everybody's vote, and I can see who each player voted for and how people on the team have affected them in a positive way, and Paddy has affected a lot of guys on this team."
Â
The four captains represent what the team really is, Norvell believes. As he noted, they are all here together, placed in the same pot from places all over. There are two holdovers from previous rosters and two newcomers. Their hometowns are spread not just across the country, but the globe.
Â
What they have in common is one thing: They all care for the team.
Â
The process, and their position, is not something Norvell will ever overlook.
Â
"I think it's important. Over the years the captain has been one of the most singularly important players on the team, and they're as responsible, really as the coaches, for the performance of the team sometimes," he said. "We're very pleased. I was very pleased with the whole process and really proud of where we've come since December as a team. I really think this is a good representative of this football team."
Â
Â
At the end of the day, it was all about which players on the team were going to lead the squad through the season, and Norvell became a bit emotional when reading off the four captains the players selected.
Â
Earlier in the week, he explained to them it wasn't about who the best players were, or even who always worked the hardest. They had to remember leaders aren't perfect, but the one thing they always have is the team's best interest at heart. They are positive and encouraging. The vote, Novell told them, was to select their teammates who best represented those values.
Â
"We've worked very hard talking about leadership. We've met at it for months, since January, really eight months of leadership meetings twice a week with our group of leaders and just telling them and showing them examples and teaching them what leadership looks like," Norvell said after Saturday's mock game, an annual tradition across the country the week prior to the opener. "Then telling these kids when you vote, we vote for who's worthy. If we have one captain, if we have three captains."
Â
At the end of Saturday's walkthrough, Norvell stood before the team and announced Dequan Jackson, A'Jon Vivens, Jacob Gardner and Paddy Turner as this season's captain. Each player, he explained, had four points to vote with. They could assign them all to one player, or they could divide those points among up to four of their teammates.
Â
Jackson was a team captain last year, and since his arrival in Fort Collins, has been seen as a leader. He was the one player his freshman year who kept his classmates in check, and he's only expanded his influence over the years. Vivens has also become a team leader, not only in the locker room, but in the community and his neighborhoods back home in the Denver area. Gardner is another player with a load of playing experience and the anchor of the offensive line who one could see quickly gained favor within the squad.
Â
The same is true of Turner, but his choice is notable by his circumstances. He has never played a college game, yet he will be the team's punter this season. On top of that, the Australian has only been in the States for about 13 months and in Fort Collins for about eight.
Â
"I think it's a real credit to the kid. I've seen him grow so much in the last year," Norvell said. "Then in the last few months since he's been here, he's had some family members that he's lost, and a lot of kids can go into a shell. We've had a lot of players on the team who have lost family members in the last couple of weeks; it's been a tough summer. But to see him pour himself into his teammates, and I think the team has really responded to that.
Â
"I have everybody's vote, and I can see who each player voted for and how people on the team have affected them in a positive way, and Paddy has affected a lot of guys on this team."
Â
The four captains represent what the team really is, Norvell believes. As he noted, they are all here together, placed in the same pot from places all over. There are two holdovers from previous rosters and two newcomers. Their hometowns are spread not just across the country, but the globe.
Â
What they have in common is one thing: They all care for the team.
Â
The process, and their position, is not something Norvell will ever overlook.
Â
"I think it's important. Over the years the captain has been one of the most singularly important players on the team, and they're as responsible, really as the coaches, for the performance of the team sometimes," he said. "We're very pleased. I was very pleased with the whole process and really proud of where we've come since December as a team. I really think this is a good representative of this football team."
Â
Players Mentioned
Inside the Running Back Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Monday, April 06
Colorado State Football: Hauss Hejny - 2026 Spring Scrimmage #2
Saturday, April 04
Colorado State Football: Kenyon Agurs - 2026 Spring Scrimmage #2
Saturday, April 04
Colorado State Football: Jim Mora - 2026 Spring Scrimmage #2
Saturday, April 04