Media Day Photo Gallery
ALBANY, N.Y. - Entering his 40th season as head coach of the University at Albany football program, Bob Ford announced on Tuesday, Aug. 14 the appointment of 13 captains to lead the 2012 Great Danes squad. Instead of having three or four captains this season, the Great Danes will have a captain represent every position with each being voted upon by those players at his position.
Sophomore Will Fiacchi, a native of Marcellus, N.Y., will head the quarterbacks. Fiacchi made two appearances last year and looks to fill the void of 2011 first team all-conference quarterback Dan Di Lella.
Senior Drew Smith will lead the tailbacks. The Schenectady, N.Y. native has been UAlbany's top all-purpose runner for the last two seasons. Named to the CFPA Running Back Watch List, Smith enters the 2012 season ranked eighth on UAlbany's career rushing list with 2,195 yards and posted the fifth-best single-season mark in 2011 with 1,092 yards on 194 carries.
At the wide receiver position, seniors Ryan Kirchner and Nick Hutcherson will share the captain duties. Kirchner has been the Great Danes' tops receiver the past two seasons, and was named to the CFPA Punt Returner Watch List for the second straight year this summer. The Rumson, N.J. native enters 2012 ranked fourth on the career receiving list with 122 catches for 1,305 yards and also holds the fourth-best single-season mark with 56 receptions last season. Hutcherson, a native of Baltimore, Md., played in all 12 games and finished with 24 receptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior Anthony Bazzoffi, who started all 12 games a year ago with two tackles, was chosen to represent the offensive linemen, while classmate Paul Booker will head the tight end position. Booker, a Schenectady, N.Y. native, made six receptions for 51 total yards and scored two touchdowns in 2012.
On the other side of the ball, seniors Ocieka Bakou and Dean Mercuris will captain the defensive linemen. A native of Rochester, N.Y., Bakou is one of the team's top returning tacklers, finishing last season with a total of 38, while also recording 2.5 sacks for 22 lost yards. Mercuris, from Staten Island, N.Y., made 22 tackles last fall and was also key on special teams with a blocked kick in the FCS Playoff game at Stony Brook.
Inside linebacker Jon Morgan earned the nod from his teammates, as he enters the season ranked 23rd on UAlbany's career tackles chart with 193. He also posted the 21st-best single season tackle total in 2011 as the Great Danes' top tackler, totaling 106. Sophomore Kyle Jordan, an outside linebacker, competed in all 12 games a year ago and finished with 60 tackles in his first season playing, including 35 solo efforts.
Justinian Mason, a junior from Mason, Ohio, will captain safeties. The free safety caught one touchdown pass and recorded 38 tackles on kickoff cover, kickoff return, punt cover and punt return.
Senior Leon Saddler, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., will lead the cornerbacks. Saddler recorded 48 tackles on the season, including 26 solo grabs, starting all 12 games last year.
Lastly, punter Paul Layton will head special teams. Layton, a junior from Burnt Hills, N.Y., has received a number of accolades throughout his career, including being named first team All-Northeast Conference and an ECAC Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Special Team All-Star in 2011. Layton averaged 42.6 yards per punt, ranking 9th among the national leaders and booted 17 kicks of 50 or more yards.
The 13 captains will be responsible for their position groups and will communicate with the coaching staff regarding any concerns among the team. For games, the captains will rotate, sending four out at a time, with those being decided on game week. The dozen marks the largest group of captains in history, doubling 1999's captain crew of six.
UAlbany opens its 14th season at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level at home for the first time since 2005. The Great Danes will kick off against Colgate University at University Field Saturday, Sept. 1 at 6:00 p.m.
Captains by position
QB - Will Fiacchi
TB - Drew Smith
WR - Ryan Kirchner
Nick Hutcherson
OL - Anthony Bazzoffi
TE - Paul Booker
DL - Ocieka Bakou
Dean Mercuris
ILB - Jon Morgan
OLB - Kyle Jordan
S - Justinian Mason
CB - Leon Saddler
P - Paul Layton
