Seniors Omar Brown, Vinny Curry, Tyson Gale and Ryan Tillman have been selected via a team vote to serve as captains for the 2011 Marshall Football Thundering Herd, the program announced Tuesday.
“It was unanimous who the team wanted as its leaders,” said Marshall head coach Doc Holliday. “These guys have set standards that will serve as a benchmark for their teammates. I am looking forward to watching these young men lead the Thundering Herd during the 2011 season.”
Brown, the team’s third-leading tackler in 2010 with 88 stops from his safety position, also had 1.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and five pass breakups. He has started 22 games over the course of his Marshall career and was an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection a year ago.
Curry, the 2011 C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, led all defensive linemen in the FBS last season with 94 stops while accumulating 12 sacks, fifth in the nation. In July, he was named to the preseason watch lists for the Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski Awards, which are given annually to the nation’s best defensive player.
Gale, a linebacker, played in all 12 games, starting eight. He posted 46 tackles with three tackles for loss and one pass breakup.
Tillman, who has started 34 collegiate games, is the Herd’s left tackle. He helped the Herd average 347.4 yards of total offense over the last five games of 2010 while gaining victories in four of those last five contests.