University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Football Add Nichols, Walker, Yocum to Captains Group
8/27/2017 7:18:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. -- The top student-athlete leadership unit for the 2017 University of Delaware football squad has just doubled.
New Blue Hens head coach Danny Rocco announced this week that a trio of standout players - senior defensive tackle Bilal Nichols, senior tight end/fullback Kyle Yocum, and junior quarterback Joe Walker - have been named co-captains.
The trio joins the three captains - senior center Brody Kern, senior linebacker Charles Bell, and junior linebacker Troy Reeder - who were announced at the Blue-White Spring Game in May.
The six captains is the highest total ever in Delaware history, surpassing the previous high of five during the 2011 season and four each during the 1996, 2008, 2014, and 2016 campaigns.
"At the end of camp, we went back and revisited our captains," said Rocco. "This is something I have been doing for a while. We had a few in the summer, and as we head into the end of camp, its gives guys the opportunity to take over some leadership roles. It is one of the greatest honors you can receive as a student-athlete and one of those things that stays with you for a long time. It gives more people the opportunity to work towards having a leadership role on the team and being recognized for that."
Nichols, a 6-4, 290 lb. sociology major from Newark, Del. (Hodgson Vo-Tech HS), is a fourth-year standout who will start in the middle of the defensive front at nose tackles. A second-year starter and a two-time All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, Nichols has collected 48 tackles during his career, including 11 tackles for loss.
Yocum, a 6-1, 240 lb. MBA candidate at Delaware and a native of Reading, Pa. (Exeter Township HS), has been a versatile standout during his five-year career, playing quarterback, fullback, tight end, and contributing on special teams. He has played in 29 career games with eight starts.
Walker, a 6-3, 205 lb. history major from Philadelphia, Pa. (Martin Luther King HS), is expected to start for the third straight season this fall under center. In 22 career games, he has thrown for 1,559 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 811 yards and five scores.
Delaware will open the 2017 season this Thursday, Aug. 31, when the Hens host downstate foe Delaware State at 7 p.m. at Delaware Stadium.
Great season, group, and mini-plan packages for 2017 Delaware Football are on sale now as are individual game tickets. Contact the Delaware Ticket Office by phone at 302-831-2257, by email at athletics-tix@udel.edu, or online by clicking on “Tickets” at www.bluehens.com. There are also a limited number of premium box seats still available for the 2017 football season.
MEDIA INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
