MSU names captains for upcoming football season

For the first time since 2009, the Michigan State Spartans will have four captains for the upcoming football season.

It's no surprise that quarterback Brian Lewerke and linebacker Joe Bachie are on that list, but they added two new names in Kenny Willikes and Raequan Williams.

"They’re guys that are going to bring it each and every day," said Willikes, a defensive end. "All three of them are outstanding leaders, and hard workers and great leaders, so it's an honor to be selected as a captain and even more to be selected with these three."

Coach Mark Dantonio says his team voted twice a day for six days, and the consensus in East Lansing was that there's no shortage of leadership.

"You look at our team, we could have had 10, 12, 15 different captains," said Bachie.

"I think there's just great leadership overall on this team as a whole," said Lewerke.

"We’ll still alternate guys in to walk out to that 50, because they've all done a great job of leading right now, and we want to make sure we honor that," said Dantonio.

Michigan State’s season kicks off in just over a week when the Spartans take on Tulsa next Friday at Spartan Stadium.