ABILENE – The ACU football team elected eight team captains for the 2018 season earlier this week, four from the offense and four from the defense, a group that will be expected to lead the Wildcats both on and off the field.
Selected by their teammates to serve as captains this fall are redshirt sophomore quarterback
Luke Anthony, junior running back
Tracy James, junior wide receiver
Josh Fink, senior center
Bill Weber, junior safety
Bolu Onifade, junior linebacker
Jeremiah Chambers, junior defensive tackle
Cole Burgess and senior defensive tackle
Dante Hibbert.
Unlike last year when the team voted on one additional captain just before the start of the regular season, head coach
Adam Dorrel said no other captains will be added to the list this year. Dorrel said the players who wanted to be considered for team captaincy were required to fill out an application that was put together by the coaching staff with very specific criteria for qualification.
"This is a great group of young men and leaders," Dorrel said of the eight players. "They're all in on everything we're doing as a program both on and off the field, and they have been since we got here last year. They do a great job of bringing great energy to the locker room, the weight room and on the field. They're a very passionate, focused group and I know they'll be great leaders for our program."
Here's a quick glance at each of the eight captains:
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QB Luke Anthony – Became the Wildcat' starting quarterback on Nov. 4 when he got the nod against Northwestern State. He threw for 345 yards and two scores in an overtime loss against the Demons in Natchitoches, La., the third-best passing yardage total by an ACU quarterback in his first career start. Anthony completed 80 of 132 passes for 776 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns against just four interceptions in seven games (two starts). In ACU's 44-35 loss to No. 4 Sam Houston State on Nov. 11, Anthony threw for five touchdowns.
Coach Dorrel says: "Luke has done a phenomenal job leading our offense and getting guys on the same page. He has a great attention to detail, is a student of the game, has a great skill set and is poised to have a great year. He has a great ability to get along with the entire team, not just the guys on the offense. I also really like that he's a 4.0 student and does a tremendous job in the classroom."
• RB Tracy James – James led the Wildcats in rushing in 2017 with 638 yards and two touchdowns on 113 carries. His 823 all-purpose yards led the team, and his rushing and all-purpose yardage numbers were each good for ninth in the Southland Conference in 2017. He rushed for a carer-high 142 yards on 16 carries against No. 4 Sam Houston State on Nov. 11. He enters his junior season with 870 career rushing yards.
Coach Dorrel says: "Tracy really came on in the latter part of the season and we're looking for a big season out of him in 2018. He's a big-bodied kick who runs well and is a complete package because he can run, catch and pass block. He's great at getting the tough yards, is very well-respected by his teammates and is also a great student-athlete in the classroom."
• WR Josh Fink – Fink caught 27 passes for 335 yards and two scores last year, both of those touchdown catches coming from Anthony. His TD catch from Anthony late in the fourth quarter sealed ACU's 24-3 win over Houston Baptist in the first game at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium on Sept. 16. He enters his senior season with 67 career catches for 817 yards and five touchdowns.
Coach Dorrel says: "Josh encompasses exactly what we want from student-athletes in our program. He's done a phenomenal job in the classroom and he's the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) here at ACU. He has a great skill set on the field. He can play the slot or outside receiver positions because he understands football at a very high level. He does a great job coming to the complex every day ready to work and get better."
• OL Bill Weber – Weber transferred to ACU from Toledo prior to the 2017 season and immediately moved into the starting spot at center. He's expected to start there again in 2018.
Coach Dorrel says: "Bill has a very positive spirit about him and he brings a lot of energy to the locker room and our team. He has a very good understanding of football and has done a great job since he's been here of working and getting better every day. He does a great job with our young offensive lineman of helping them develop as well."
• DB Bolu Onifade – In his first season as a starter in 2017, Onifade led the Wildcats in solo tackles (52) and total tackles (76) as he and
Brandon Richmond teamed to form one of the top safety duos in the Southland Conference. Onifade had three games of double-digit tackles: 17 vs. Colorado State (Sept. 9), 13 vs. Stephen F. Austin (Sept. 23) and 11 vs. Southeastern Louisiana (Oct. 21). He enters his junior seasons with 92 career tackles.
Coach Dorrel says: "Bolu had a great junior year and has developed himself into a great player who does a good job of bringing accountability to our program. He's a complete player who can play the pass and support the run. We're expecting big things out of him this year."
• LB Jeremiah Chambers – Chambers earned a starting job in 2017 and enters the 2018 season as the starter at middle linebacker. He finished the season with 50 tackles (29 solo), including 1.5 tackles for loss. He also had two pass breakups, two passes defended and one quarterback hurry.
Coach Dorrel says: "Jeremiah is a hard-nosed, physical, fundamentally sound player who brings a real sense of toughness to our football team. He's very respected by our players and has a lot of grit and passion."
• DT Dante Hibbert – Established himself as a team leader from the moment he stepped on the campus in 2016 and rewarded for that this year by being voted a team captain. One of the best interior linemen returning in the Southland Conference, Hibbert had 29 tackles last season, including 3.5 for loss and three sacks. He also had one pass breakup, one pass defended, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumbles. He has 44 career tackles entering his senior season.
Coach Dorrel says: "Dante has done a great helping the young players on our football team develop. He has great energy who's very good against the run. He's a hard-nosed player who has gotten a lot better in one year's time."
• DT Cole Burgess – Burgess enters his junior season as a vital part of the Wildcats' defensive tackle rotation. He finished last season with 16 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and one-half sack. He also had one pass breakup and one pass defended.
Coach Dorrel says: "Cole has a motor that never stops. He practices and plays with great energy. He loves the game of football and it shows in his preparation for everything he does, whether it's in the weight room or on the practice field. He's highly respected by his teammates, and plays with great passion and toughness."
