With one returning captain and two new ones announced Sunday, the Elon University football team has their leaders for this season. And head coach Jason Swepson is pleased with his team’s selections.

For the offense, it’s senior wide receiver Jeremy Peterson. Peterson was second on the Phoenix in receptions (39) and receiving yards (333) last year in just eight games. Swepson pointed out the work ethic and commitment Peterson brings to the team, saying he had not missed a summer workout in two years and that his “vocal leadership” was "fantastic."

And no, it’s not senior wide receiver Aaron Mellette. No, it’s not senior quarterback Thomas Wilson, and for that, Swepson is impressed.

“It shows that it’s not a popularity contest,” he said. “They could have easily voted for Aaron or Thomas based on stats. We’ve got a smart team, a mature team that pretty much rewarded hard work. I’m excited about that.”

Peterson noted that he has some “big shoes to fill” in replacing 2011 first-team all-Southern Conference offensive lineman Ned Cuthbertson and Elon legend Scott Riddle in the offensive captain’s spot.

“Ned was a good captain last year for the offense, year before that Scott,” he said. “It’s a pretty good feeling, I’ve just got to step up and be more vocal, lead these guys down the right path.”

On defense, senior linebacker Blake Thompson returns to captain the defensive squad he led last year. Only this time, he’ll be in the box instead of patrolling from the safety position he occupied in 2011.

“You’re basically in every single play,” he said. “And having that presence, not so deep, you can talk to everybody. You can turn around and talk to the safety, you can get up, hit the D-lineman on the butt. You can talk to everybody, you can communicate that much better being in the heart of the defense.”

Swepson sees the selection as a recurring vote of confidence in the team’s second-leading tackler (60 tackles) last year.

[quote] It’s a tremendous honor, something that you definitely don’t take lightly. -Adam Shreiner, special teams captain [/quote]

“It just shows you the faith the team has in him, shows that he did a good job last year and they like his leadership,” he said.

The coaching staff decided that a special teams captain was needed, and senior kicker Adam Shreiner was the unanimous pick by the coaching staff.

“He’s been doing it for a long time,” Swepson said. “He’s ready to lead, and we’re excited about it.”

Shreiner, who could be seen talking to the younger kickers and helping them during practice on Tuesday, is “extremely thankful” for the opportunity.

“It’s a tremendous honor, something that you definitely don’t take lightly,” he said. “And to have the vote of confidence from the coaching staff, for them to put that kind of trust in me."

Elon will also have a fourth “wild card” captain on Saturdays, chosen by the players, coaches and “everyone involved with the program,” down to the academic liason, Swepson said.

“It would give some motivation to not only the seniors that didn’t become a captain, but I’d like to see some young guys have a good game on Saturday, a good week of practice and be named captain,” he added.

Quick Hits

  • Swepson spent 10-15 minutes working with the Phoenix’s young core of running backs during practice Tuesday. He was a running backs coach at North Carolina State University and Boston College for Tom O’Brien and working with them made him “feel like a coach again,” he said. “I think it’s more fun for me than for those guys. I felt with my 15 years of experience at coaching that position, I can help out these young guys.”
  • Junior Kenton Beal had a couple of booming punts during punt team practice, even getting off a couple 50-yarders. Beal struggled a bit in the starting role last season, averaging just 38.4 yards per punt.
  • Sophomore offensive lineman Austin Sowell was in a walking boot today after injuring his leg yesterday. If healthy, the former SoCon all-freshman team player should help anchor a line that lost three key players (Cuthbertson, Rodney Austin and Logan Hardin) to graduation. Seniors Justin Ward and Kyle Herbert and juniors Dennis Wagner, Clay Johnson and Gavin Billings took snaps at the O-line with the first team offense.
  • Swepson is living with the freshmen in Danieley Center for the second year in a row for preseason practices. “We’re kind of spread out, but being in the dorms, seeing them walk in the dorms at night and all that is a good experience,” he said. “It worked last year. I’ve got a great relationship with that class from last year, and hopefully it continues the tradition of bonding with the freshman class.”