Captains: Sasson, Johnson, Cook, Hess

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

YSU senior linebacker John Sasson, senior defensive tackle Andrew Johnson, junior tailback Jamaine Cook and sophomore quarterback Kurt Hess were named team captains on Saturday.

Hess is believed to be the first sophomore in school history to be named captain. He is the first quarterback to be tabbed a captain since Tom Zetts in 2007. He earned Missouri Valley Football Conference freshman of the year honors last year.

Cook, who is on the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award, rushed for 1,276 yards as a sophomore and was named second-team all-conference.

Sasson led the team last year with a career-high 89 tackles. Entering last year he had a total of 90 career tackles.

Johnson, who transferred from Bowling Green prior to last season, started last year on a good note before being slowed by an ankle injury the remainder of the season.

YSU will practice this morning at Stambaugh Stadium. They start classes on Monday after have their first evening practice session, which begins at 7.

YSU opens the season on Friday at Michigan State.