2023 Bucknell Football Team Captains Announced
4/25/2023 1:51:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – During Sunday's Spring Game, head Bucknell football coach Dave Cecchini announced that Coleman Bennett, Blake Leake, Nick Semptimphelter and Casey Stephenson will serve as team captains in 2023. The captains were voted on by their peers.
Bennett has been a versatile weapon for the Bison offense and special teams units throughout his career, seeing time at running back, receiver and kick returner. He finished the 2022 season second on the roster in rushing yards, fourth in receiving yards and first in kickoff returns. The junior found the end zone three times last season, including on a 93-yard kickoff return in Bucknell's overtime win at Georgetown.
In 2021, Bennett started four games at running back and four at receiver, and he served as a game captain at Fordham. He also earned Preseason All-Patriot League honors prior to his sophomore campaign after leading the Bison in kickoff return yards as a freshman. Bennett was named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team last November and has been an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar honoree.
Leake is entering his third season as a regular starter at linebacker. He tied for second on the team with 83 tackles in 2022, adding an interception, 1.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. He finished third on the roster with 63 tackles as a sophomore and served as a game captain at Colgate.
Leake, along with Bennett, earned the Tom Gadd Coaches' Award at last December's Bison Gridiron Club Awards Banquet.
Semptimphelter has started seven games at quarterback and has played in 17 over his three years with the Bison. He led Bucknell in quarterback rating, passing attempts, completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2022. Notably, he helped lead comeback efforts in wins over Lehigh and Georgetown last season.
Semptimphelter, the son of 1993 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Scott Semptimphelter, has also racked up 74 rushing attempts and a pair of rushing touchdowns over his career.
Stephenson worked his way back from an injury his sophomore season and played in nine games as a junior in 2022, making seven starts on the offensive line. He also started three of four games during his rookie campaign at left guard.
With Stephenson in the lineup, the Bison reached the spring 2021 Patriot League Championships game. He was one of four freshman to start that season.
Along with Cecchini's announcement of the 2023 captains, season tickets for the upcoming Bucknell football campaign went on sale Sunday. Fans can purchase their tickets online through the campus box office.
