GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College Head Football Coach Mike Cragg recently announced the six men that will serve as team captains for the 2016 season. Seniors Matt Cragg, James Hedger, Marcus Jemison, Patrick O'Connell III and Nick Testani and junior Shane Sweeney will lead the Statesmen.
 
"These young men will be outstanding leaders and are fine examples of what it means to be a Hobart Statesman," Cragg said.
 
Matt Cragg, Coach Cragg's nephew, returns for his third season as a starter at free safety. He has played in 26 games over the past three seasons, recording 46 tackles, eight pass breakups, and an interception. He received 2014 All-Liberty League honorable mention after producing 24 tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception. He missed three games due to injury last season, but still contributed 11 tackles and three pass breakups.
 
Hedger is also back for his third season in the starting lineup at defensive end. He has 66 career tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks in 32 games. Hedger made a career-high seven tackles in his first collegiate start against Dickinson in 2014. He was third on the team in sacks last season with 2.5.
 
Jemison, who was named to the 2016 D3football.com preseason All-America second team at linebacker, returns for his third season as a starter. He was second on the team last season with 49 tackles and added a team-high 4.5 sacks. The two-time All-Liberty League selection had a season-high eight tackles in last season's upset of then No. 25 St. Lawrence. In 32 career games, Jemison has 153 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks, 11 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles.
 
O'Connell and Testani anchor the Hobart offensive line. O'Connell earned second team All-Liberty League recognition as a sophomore at right tackle. Last season, he earned the same all-conference praise at left tackle. This year, he is expected to move again, this time starting at left guard. Meanwhile, Testani will start at center for the third straight year. He earned All-Liberty League honorable mention as a sophomore and jumped up to the first team last year.
 
A transfer from the University at Albany, Sweeney started at quarterback in seven games with the Statesmen last year. He completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,547 yards and 17 touchdowns against just four interceptions. Sweeney led the Liberty League in passing yards per game (221.0, a Hobart season record) and pass efficiency rating (148.3). He threw for a season-high 305 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Union, and broke the Hobart record for touchdown passes in a game with six in the season finale at Rochester.
 
The Statesmen went 7-3 overall last season and finished third in the Liberty League with a 5-2 record. Hobart returns seven starters on offense and eight on defense among their 41 returning letter winners.
 
The Statesmen report for preseason camp on Saturday, August 13. Hobart will open its 123rd varsity season at Brockport on Sept. 3. The Statesmen will play their first home game of the year on Sept. 17, hosting Ithaca on Homecoming and Family Weekend.