POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist football team has elected four captains for the 2018 season: fifth-year senior linebacker Willie Barrett, fifth-year senior free safety Wesley Beans, red-shirt sophomore linebacker Grant Dixon, and junior center Dan Wittekind.
 
"It's a really good mix," head coach Jim Parady said. "Wes has done a great job as a returning captain. Willie has really assumed leadership on and off the field in the past year. Dan and Grant are great representatives of our program who have earned the respect of the team."
 
In Parady's 26 years as head coach, only two players have been named captains prior to their senior year academically: Rory Foley in 2009, and Chuckie Looney in 2012. That number doubled this year with the selections of Wittekind and Dixon. In fact, Dixon is the first captain in Parady's tenure to earn the distinction with three years of eligibility remaining.
 
Here is a closer look at the Red Foxes' captains:
 

Willie Barrett

• Named to Watch List for Buck Buchanan Award this season.
• First Team All-PFL selection last year.
• Preseason All-PFL this season.

 

Wesley Beans

• In his second season as captain.
• Second Team All-PFL, 2016; Honorable Mention All-PFL, 2017.
• Three-time PFL Academic Honor Roll selection.

 

Grant Dixon

• Named Second Team PFL All-Academic last season.
• Two-time PFL Academic Honor Roll selection.
• Had six tackles for loss and three sacks last season.

 

Dan Wittekind

• PFL Honorable Mention last year.
• CoSIDA Academic All-District & First Team PFL All-Academic last season.
• Two-time PFL Academic Honor Roll selection.

 
Marist opens the 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 against Georgetown at Tenney Stadium. The Red Foxes will have five home games this season, their 10th as a member of the Pioneer Football League. Two former Marist football players – Terrence Fede (Buffalo Bills) and Jason Myers (New York Jets) – are currently on NFL rosters. For information on tickets, please click here.