Team Names Captains for Upcoming Season

As Jay Norvell stood in front of his team at the end of Saturday's practice – the one which officially ended fall camp and directed the Colorado State football team toward normal season operations – he delivered a message.

The assembled group knew captains for the upcoming season were going to be named – teammates they had all selected – and the head coach reminded them they all still had a duty, that all of them were expected to be leaders. In their class. In their position rooms. Leadership comes from across the board.

The six designated captains painted that picture rather clear. Mukendi Wa-Kalonji, a fifth-year player who has lived through the surge. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, the third-year starter at quarterback. Tanner Morley, a young offensive lineman. Then there are a trio of linebackers.

Two of them – Jacob Ellis and JaQues Evans – have only been with the team since spring, their selections highlighting the immediate impact they have carried. The third, Owen Long, is a true sophomore who becomes the youngest player Norvell has ever had been voted captain.

A point of pride for him, but it won't change a thing.

"I don't ever want to assume things and at the end of the day, being a captain is just the word that's added, but there's a lot of meaning that comes with it. Obviously, I just want to represent my team and be the best leader I can for them," Long said. "Whether I was a captain or not, that was the plan all along. I feel like that's just part of who I am. That's just the way I feel like I was raised, just to keep that going."

Norvell likes the diversity the group brings, particularly the idea they represent, that any personality type can provide leadership. There's a blend of quiet with gregariousness, proving reaching people can be accomplished through a multitude of manners.

Hearing his name caught Wa-Kalonji a bit off guard, just for that reason. He doesn't say a lot, but his words have impact. And then it clicked for him: it's not always what you say, but what you do.

"It means a lot to me, you know. I've been here my whole career," Wa-Kalonji said. "The team, looking up to me, I'm honestly surprised because like I tell a lot of them, I'm not a big talker, but that allows me to become a good listener. I like to listen to a lot of what the guys say, and I feel like that's really what allowed me to be in this position, and I'm really thankful for it.

"I've never really talked a lot, but I've always been really friendly to everybody. If I see a new guy, literally when the freshmen came and the transfers came, I was one of the first ones to always introduce myself, because they'd always look like they're alone, so I'm always going to try to get them in first through the door so they can find the group of people on the team and fit in."

Only Fowler-Nicolisi is a returning captain, and he stepped into the role last year after Tory Horton was injured. The rest are new to the position as Rams, though Norvell will tell you all of them have been growing toward the status during their time on the roster. When he and his staff were counting votes, none of them were actually surprised by the outcome.

Not with Morley, who stepped into a starting role last year and started putting himself out front, armed with the type of personality which draws people in while challenging them. The fact both Evans and Ellis were named proved to him they are recruiting the right types of people, those who have an impact on and off the field.

"I've been so impressed with the new players that we brought in with their attitude. They've been very humble, but they have high standards, and they want to be part of the team and they're courageous," Norvell said. "They get in front of their teammates and talk, and so I couldn't be prouder of the players that we brought in. The coaches are the same way.

"You know, our coaches that come in have been very open, stood up in front of the team, talked about their history and their past. And it really allowed us to open up. It's by far been the best team meetings I've ever had as a head coach. I mean, training camp is a time when we really want to get to know each other. And our meetings have been incredible. Last night was the best I've ever had as head coach. And it's just guys getting in front of each other, talking about what's important to them, caring for one another and connecting."

It doesn't have to take long to become the type of player teammates rely on, either. Some are just naturally that way without even trying.

Long was humbled about his selection, prouder that he was one of three linebackers among the captains – "we're doing it right on this side of the ball." Presented the title means a lot, but for him, changes not a thing.

"That's my goal every day. I wake up, I don't want to be anybody else except myself," Long said. "I'm just going to do me and whether people like that or not, it's not really something I care about. I'm just going to do what I was raised to do and what I believe is right. At the end of the day, I think that's just being a good teammate and being the best teammate that I can to everyone here."

The team has Sunday off, and when the squad returns Monday, it will move into more of an in-season schedule even though classes don't start for another week. It will aid the development of a routine as the Rams began preparing for the season opener Aug. 30 at Washington.

As Norvell reminded them before the announcement of captains, in a mere two weeks they will be in hotel rooms, watching other teams play, waiting for their time to take the field – and the six teammates who will lead them out there.

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Jacob Ellis

JaQues Evans

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi

Tory Horton

Owen Long

Tanner Morley

Mukendi Wa-Kalonji

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