With less than 15 days until its 2025 season gets underway, Penn State revealed its captains for the new season on Saturday. The Nittany Lions will be led onto the field by five seniors in 2025.
Senior quarterback Drew Allar leads the charge, who decided to return for his senior year for the chance to win a national championship. Allar is a top Heisman candidate in 2025 after earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors each of the last two seasons.
The senior quarterback ranks No. 1 all-time in Penn State history in completion percentage and interception percentage, and third in school history in touchdown passes and passing efficiency.
From quarterback to center, redshirt senior offensive lineman Nick Dawkins will also be a captain in 2025. Dawkins played center in all 16 games in 2024, and allowed just two sacks earning All-Big Ten honorable mention honors and the Allstate Wuerfell Trophy.
The Nittany Lions' center has also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors every year at Penn State, demonstrating his work on the field and in the classroom.
From offense to defense, Penn State's third captain is redshirt senior linebacker Dominic DeLuca. DeLuca has patiently waited his turn to be the star beside a slew of star linebackers at Penn State. Now, the redshirt senior is ready for the rest of the country to learn his name.
Over the last three years, DeLuca has collected 98 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five interceptions and 2.5 sacks. The Nittany Lions' defensive leader has also defended five passes and forced two fumbles.
Penn State football announces team captains for 2025:
— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) August 16, 2025
Drew Allar
Nick Dawkins
Dom DeLuca
Zane Durant
Tyler Duzansky#WeAre #PennState #NittanyLions pic.twitter.com/F3sUDFxwwR
Playing in front of DeLuca is senior defensive tackle Zane Durant, who will also be a team captain 2025. Durant earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2024 after collecting 42 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Last, but certainly not least, redshirt senior long snapper Tyler Duzansky rounds out Penn State's 2025 team captains. Duzansky was named to the All-Big Ten third team by the media and All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches in 2024, and has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the last three years.
Penn State is ranked No. 2 in the AP Top 25 preseason rankings and has aspiration for a national championship in 2025. Now fans know who will be leading the Nittany Lions not only onto the field, but off the field as captains for the upcoming season.