2022 Football Captains
Aug 31 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Following a team vote, DL Mayan Ahanotu, WR Shameen Jones, P Adam Korsak, TE Johnny Langan, QB Noah Vedral and DB Avery Young were selected as the 2022 Rutgers football captains. The group leads the Scarlet Knights into Saturday's season opener. Korsak becomes the second three-time captain in program history, while Vedral is a captain for the second-straight year.
MAYAN AHANOTU
Ahanotu is set for his third season with the Scarlet Knights after playing in 22 games with 10 starts on the defensive line the previous two years. In 2021, the Florida native collected multiple stops in seven games and had a strip sack in the road win over Syracuse. Ahanotu also had a tackle-for-loss versus Maryland and was recently named to the Shrine Bowl 1000 as one of the top all-star game eligible players. He is a member of the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, which honors college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society and inspire greater service in the world as the sport's premier award for community service.
SHAMEEN JONES
Jones enters his sixth season in the program, having played in 44 games with 26 starts at wide receiver. The New York native has totaled 86 career receptions for 882 yards. That included picking up multiple catches in 10 games last season, matching his career high with eight versus Michigan State. Jones had two touchdowns in the 2020 win at Purdue.
ADAM KORSAK
Korsak becomes the second player in program history to become a three-time captain, joining Darius Hamilton. Named Second Team All-America in 2021 by the Associated Press, FWAA, Phil Steele and Walter Camp, Korsak helped the Scarlet Knights to a net punting average of 45.25 yards to set an NCAA record. The Aussie was voted a Ray Guy Award finalist, winning the fan vote, to become the first Scarlet Knight to place in the top-three for a national on-field award since 2007. Opponents had a return of less than four yards 69-of-72 attempts, with 65 times recording a zero or negative return. In addition, Korsak pinned 38 inside the 20 with 16 settling at the 10 or closer and four times stopping a punt at the 1-yard line. He boomed 19 at least 50 yards on the way to setting a program record with a 45.8 average, recording zero touchbacks. He has posted 124 consecutive attempts without a touchback dating back to 2019 and was voted First Team All-Big Ten in the coaches' vote. Korsak additionally holds the Rutgers records for career punting yards (12,021), career punts (274) and longest punt (79 yards).
JOHNNY LANGAN
A versatile player, Langan has appeared in 33 career games with 701 rushing yards, 187 receiving yards on 20 receptions, 1,000 passing yards on 96 completions and 17 touchdowns accounted for (10 rushing, seven passing). He was named Rutgers' MVP for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl versus Wake Forest after totaling 57 receiving yards on a season-high six receptions, 20 rushing yards and two completions for 21 yards.
NOAH VEDRAL
Vedral becomes a two-time captain after starting all 13 games and passing for 1,823 yards last season, the most by a Scarlet Knight since 2015. The quarterback added 297 rushing yards, including a go-ahead 15-yard touchdown run in the win at Illinois. The total offense of 163.1 yards per game ranked eighth in the Big Ten. He collected the Bender Award, an honor presented to the player who has demonstrated an exceptionally high level of mental and physical toughness throughout the season, and was a winner of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2021. Vedral earned a spot on the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team in July, which is based on exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field.
AVERY YOUNG
Young moved to safety last season and ranked second on the team with 81 tackles, posting at least seven stops in eight games. The Pennsylvania native added two sacks with an interception, pass breakup and forced fumble. The performance earned a spot on the All-ECAC Defense. In 45 career games and over 3,000 snaps played, Young has totaled 242 tackles with 21 passes defended and four forced fumbles.
The Scarlet Knights open the 2022 season Saturday at Boston College. Kickoff is set for noon on ACC Network. Listen on the RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
MAYAN AHANOTU
Ahanotu is set for his third season with the Scarlet Knights after playing in 22 games with 10 starts on the defensive line the previous two years. In 2021, the Florida native collected multiple stops in seven games and had a strip sack in the road win over Syracuse. Ahanotu also had a tackle-for-loss versus Maryland and was recently named to the Shrine Bowl 1000 as one of the top all-star game eligible players. He is a member of the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, which honors college football players who serve others, celebrate their positive impact on society and inspire greater service in the world as the sport's premier award for community service.
SHAMEEN JONES
Jones enters his sixth season in the program, having played in 44 games with 26 starts at wide receiver. The New York native has totaled 86 career receptions for 882 yards. That included picking up multiple catches in 10 games last season, matching his career high with eight versus Michigan State. Jones had two touchdowns in the 2020 win at Purdue.
ADAM KORSAK
Korsak becomes the second player in program history to become a three-time captain, joining Darius Hamilton. Named Second Team All-America in 2021 by the Associated Press, FWAA, Phil Steele and Walter Camp, Korsak helped the Scarlet Knights to a net punting average of 45.25 yards to set an NCAA record. The Aussie was voted a Ray Guy Award finalist, winning the fan vote, to become the first Scarlet Knight to place in the top-three for a national on-field award since 2007. Opponents had a return of less than four yards 69-of-72 attempts, with 65 times recording a zero or negative return. In addition, Korsak pinned 38 inside the 20 with 16 settling at the 10 or closer and four times stopping a punt at the 1-yard line. He boomed 19 at least 50 yards on the way to setting a program record with a 45.8 average, recording zero touchbacks. He has posted 124 consecutive attempts without a touchback dating back to 2019 and was voted First Team All-Big Ten in the coaches' vote. Korsak additionally holds the Rutgers records for career punting yards (12,021), career punts (274) and longest punt (79 yards).
JOHNNY LANGAN
A versatile player, Langan has appeared in 33 career games with 701 rushing yards, 187 receiving yards on 20 receptions, 1,000 passing yards on 96 completions and 17 touchdowns accounted for (10 rushing, seven passing). He was named Rutgers' MVP for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl versus Wake Forest after totaling 57 receiving yards on a season-high six receptions, 20 rushing yards and two completions for 21 yards.
NOAH VEDRAL
Vedral becomes a two-time captain after starting all 13 games and passing for 1,823 yards last season, the most by a Scarlet Knight since 2015. The quarterback added 297 rushing yards, including a go-ahead 15-yard touchdown run in the win at Illinois. The total offense of 163.1 yards per game ranked eighth in the Big Ten. He collected the Bender Award, an honor presented to the player who has demonstrated an exceptionally high level of mental and physical toughness throughout the season, and was a winner of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2021. Vedral earned a spot on the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team in July, which is based on exemplary community service, academic dedication and impact on and off the field.
AVERY YOUNG
Young moved to safety last season and ranked second on the team with 81 tackles, posting at least seven stops in eight games. The Pennsylvania native added two sacks with an interception, pass breakup and forced fumble. The performance earned a spot on the All-ECAC Defense. In 45 career games and over 3,000 snaps played, Young has totaled 242 tackles with 21 passes defended and four forced fumbles.
The Scarlet Knights open the 2022 season Saturday at Boston College. Kickoff is set for noon on ACC Network. Listen on the RWJBarnabas Health Rutgers Sports Network.
Follow Rutgers football on Twitter (@RFootball & @RutgersFBfans), Facebook (/RFootballShow) and Instagram (@rfootball) for the latest news and updates. Also subscribe to the YouTube channel.
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