Four named as football team captains for for 2009
Four seniors who figure to play prominent roles in a recharged Golden Eagle defense have been selected as Tennessee Tech’s 2009 football team captains, head coach Watson Brown announced this week.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Four seniors who figure to play prominent
roles in a recharged Golden Eagle defense have been selected as
Tennessee Tech’s 2009 football team captains, head coach
Watson Brown announced this week.
The team has chosen linemen Brendon Fisher and Kelvin Quarles,
cornerback Taron Ryce and outside linebacker Derrian Waters to
serve as captains for the Golden Eagles.
Choosing captains heading into the season is a departure from
Tech’s previous three decades, when game captains have been
selected and permanent team captains were named following the
season.
“We felt we needed to define our leadership more because we
have such a small senior class,” Brown said. “All four
of them have the potential to be really good captains. They are all
leaders.
“I think the players picked four good captains, and all of
them are really good people, too.”
The four come from a senior class that numbers only eight
players.
Waters is a 5-9 outside linebacker from Franklin (Tenn.) High
School. He began his Golden Eagle career on defense, moved to
tailback the past two seasons, and during Spring drills moved back
to an outside linebacker position on the defense for his final
season.
“Derrian has been one of the best leaders on the team since
I’ve been here,” Brown said.
Ryce is a 5-11 defensive back from Sparkman High School in
Harvest, Ala., who returns to his starting role at cornerback in
2009. He has played in 33 games during his three seasons and
started 22 of the last 23. He has posted 145 total tackles and four
interceptions, broken up 24 passes, caused two fumbles and
recovered two.
Fisher is a 6-foot-2 defensive end from Rickards High School in
Tallahassee, Fla. He has played in 31 contests in his three
seasons, and has started 23 consecutive games. He has 76 total
tackles to his credit, including five quarterback sacks and 11.5
tackles-for-loss.
“Taron and Brandon have both grown up quite a bit in my two
years here,” Brown said. “They are both excellent
athletes and they have developed really strong work
habits.”
Quarles is a newcomer to the squad, a transfer from UAB who
arrived last fall and went through Spring drills with his new
teammates. He will split his time between defensive end and outside
linebacker.
“Kelvin has great leadership skills and a tremendous work
ethic,” Brown said. “It’s really something to
come in here and immediately earn the kind of respect within the
team to be named captain. That says a lot about him.”
The Golden Eagles will open the 2009 season on Thursday, Sept. 10,
when they host Pikeville College at 7 p.m. in Tucker Stadium.
Season tickets are on sale at the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen
Center or by calling (931) 372-3940.
