University Park, Pa. — A pair of fifth-year seniors, Brett Brackett (Lawrenceville, N.J.) and Ollie Ogbu (Staten Island, N.Y.) have been elected co-captains of the 2010 Penn State football team.
Coach Joe Paterno made the announcement Tuesday (Aug. 30) at his weekly teleconference, as the No. 19/14 Nittany Lions prepare to open the season vs. Youngstown State. The squad voted for captains on Monday.
"It is such a tremendous honor to be named a captain by your teammates," Brackett said. "Being a captain adds some responsibility, but it is a something that I am really looking forward to."
"I have looked up to so many great captains, like Sean Lee, Daryll Clark, Josh Gaines and Terrell Golden, so to be a captain myself, it feels really special," Ogbu said. "It is a big honor to be voted a captain by my teammates."
A 6-6 wide receiver, Brackett has 17 career receptions for a 11.1 average and two touchdowns. The former Lawrence High School standout quarterback said he is primarily playing slot receiver this year, the position where he made 13 catches for 160 yards and one score in 2008.
Brackett is president of Penn State's Uplifting Athletes Chapter and has been instrumental in the organization and success of the Penn State Lift for Life to benefit the Kidney Cancer Association the past two years. In 2008, the Nittany Lion football team event broke the record by raising more than $81,000 for Kidney Cancer Association, a figure which was shattered by the 2009 total of more than $98,000.
A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Brackett earned his degree in marketing in December 2009. He is on schedule to earn a second degree, in economics, this December.
A defensive tackle, Ogbu has started 22 games the past two seasons and has been instrumental in helping Penn State rank among the Top 10 defenses. The Nittany Lions have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in the past 16 games, the nation's third-longest streak, trailing only Alabama and Ohio State.
Ogbu made 30 tackles last season, with eight tackles for loss and two sacks, helping Penn State rank No. 6 nationally in rushing defense at 89.8 yards per game. The former Milford Academy standout forced a team-high three fumbles and ranked sixth with his eight minus-yardage hits. The 6-1, 300-pound Ogbu made a career-high six stops vs. Akron last year, including 2.5 TFL.
Ogbu is on schedule to earn his degree in sociology in December.
Paterno's 45th squad opens Penn State's 124th season on Saturday, hosting Youngstown State at noon. Tickets are available at www.GoPSUsports.com or by calling 814-865-5555 weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m. The game will air on Big Ten Network, the Penn State Sports Network and www.GoPSUsports.com.
Penn State Football Eve presented by HappyValley.com launches the season on Friday, Sept. 3 at 7:45 p.m. in Beaver Stadium. The event and parking are free.