AMHERST — Local products James Starks and Naaman Roosevelt have been major offensive players since they started playing for the University at Buffalo three years ago.
Now they’re bonafide leaders.
Starks, Roosevelt and offensive tackle Andrew West were voted captains by their teammates, coach Turner Gill announced Tuesday. Safeties Mike Newton and Davonte Shannon will be the defensive captains.
“I’m proud of it,” Starks said. “I’m not really a talker but I know my teammates look up to me and when they need encouragement, I’ll be there for them.”
“When you have your peers vote you in to be captain, that means a lot,” Gill said. “These are your peers saying, ‘Here are the guys who we want to be our leaders.’ ”
When asked what UB could do to improve on last season’s conquest of the Mid-American Conference and first-ever bowl game invitation, Starks smiled and made a confident declaration.
“Gotta get the bowl game,” the Niagara Falls native said. “Win the East (division), get the MAC (championship), go to a bowl game and finish the job.”
UB lost 38-20 to Connecticut in the International Bowl at Toronto’s Rogers Centre in January.
•••
Gill said there is only one true freshman who is certain not to redshirt this season: Nick Sizemore, a 6-foot-2, 248-pound fullback from Litiz, Pa. Defensive backs Bunduka Kargbo (Albany) and Carlos Lammons (Pahokee, Fla.) could also play in their first year. ... Freshman linebacker Darius Willis has been moved from middle linebacker to strong side linebacker, switching with Raphael Akobundu. Jake Reeder, who was recruited as a tight end out of State College, Pa., is now playing right tackle. ... Cornerback Kendric Hawkins will likely miss the season opener with a knee injury. ... UB is promoting Starks and Roosevelt’s senior campaigns with a replication of the “Untouchables” movie poster. It’s available at BuffaloBulls.com/UntouchaBulls.
Sports
August 18, 2009
UB FOOTBALL: Starks, Roosevelt, West, Newton, Shannon voted captains
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