Wagner Football Names Captains for 2018 Season

Staten Island, NY - With eight days to go before the August 30 season opener vs. Bowie State, Wagner fourth-year head coach Jason Houghtaling has announced that a quintet of Seahawks has been selected as 2018 team captains. The five Seahawk captains this season will include running back Ryan Fulse, offensive lineman Brady Hudik, defensive lineman Charbel Dabire, linebacker Santoni Graham, and defensive back Sterling Lowry. "These five young men are proven leaders and productive performers, each of whom have earned the respect of their teammates and coaches alike," Houghtaling said. All five captains are members of the senior class, though Graham, who has one season of eligibility remaining following the 2018 season, is listed as a redshirt-junior. For Graham and Lowry, this marks the second straight season that they will serve as team captains.

The 5-11, 195-pound Fulse has earned his share of preseason accolades, having been named to the 36-member College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch, as well as NEC and Phil Steele NEC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Additionally, Fulse is also a Second-Team Preseason All-American by Lindy's Magazine. In 2018, Fulse, who starred for two seasons at Monroe College before becoming a first-year Seahawk in 2017, will be looking to build on his maiden season on Grymes Hill where he ranked No. 4 among all FCS rushers. The Fort Meade, FL native capped his brilliant, breakout 2017 campaign by eclipsing the 100-yard rushing mark for the fifth straight game in the season-ending win at Sacred Heart (11/11). His 26-carry, 192-yard day allowed him to finish the regular season as the NEC rushing champion (1,306 yards). In addition to ranking fourth nationally, this figure also was good for ninth on the Seahawk all-time single-season list. The speedster closed the 2017 season with six 100-yard plus efforts in his last seven games and four straight. A three-time NEC Offensive Player of the Week honoree, his. season-high three-touchdown effort vs. Sacred Heart gave him 12 for the season, His top offensive output came vs. Bryant (10/28) when he rumbled for 228 yards on 25 carries in becoming the first Seahawk to hit the double-century mark since Dominique Williams in 2011. Hudik, who has been a durable and valuable leader on the Seahawk offensive line throughout his career, helped solidify the Seahawk O-Line before as a sophomore in 2016 before going on to enjoy a breakout season at left guard in 2017. A starter at left guard in each of Wagner's 22 games over the past two seasons, his strength and balance at the point of attack in the running game helped the Green & White rush for 1,727 yards, with eight games of 150 yards or more in 2017. The 6-5, 305-pound Bordentown, NJ native also played a key role in paving the way for Fulse to become the nation's fourth-leading rusher. A brilliant student-athlete, Hudik was named to the 2017 Academic All-District First Team for District 1 as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The Business Administration major is also a three-time NEC Academic Honor Roll member and has been named to the 2017 NEC Commissioner's Honor Roll (3.75 GPA or better) each of the past two years. At 6-1, 300 pounds, Dabire is a powerful and sturdy defensive lineman who has had a major impact in helping solidify and fortify the Seahawks' defensive front in each of his first two seasons on Grymes Hill. A physical run-stuffer, Dabire has seen action in all 22 games in 2016 and 2017, with a combined nine starts. A year ago, he was second among Seahawk defensive lineman with 22 tackles. He recorded a season-high four stops on three separate occasions, vs. Columbia (9/16), Lehigh (9/30) and Central Connecticut (10/4) and was credited with seven tackles for loss for negative 24 yards, including 1.5 sacks. The 6-1, 225-pound Graham burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2016, proving to be one of the NEC's top all-around linebackers. A physical inside force, Graham is equally adept at stuffing the run as playing in pass coverage and, when healthy, forms a devastating one-two punch at the inside linebacker spot with Quintin Hampton. In 2017, he earned the Leadership Award at the Seahawks' postseason banquet. After getting out to a fast start with 11-tackle games vs. Saint Francis U (9/9) and Columbia (9/16), he finished the year with 49 tackles, including 33 solo stops, which was good for fourth on the team despite being limited by injury. His 2017 season came on the heels of a healthy 2016 season that saw him pace the Seahawks in both total (83) and solo (57) tackles. Among those 83 stops, which ranked No. 7 in the NEC, were 9.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. With three seasons and 30 career games under his belt in the secondary, Lowry, who joins Graham as a two-time captain will again look to make a big impact in the Seahawk secondary as a senior. In 2017, the 5-11, 180-pound Syracuse, NY native started all 11 games, recording 39 tackles, including 30 solo. He enjoyed a career-high 11-tackle game , with five solo stops, vs. Central Connecticut (10/14), had a six-tackle effort at No. 12 Stony Brook (11/11). The smooth, efficient Lowry also recorded three or more tackles in five different games, came up with an interception in the season-opening win over Saint Anselm (8/31), had a forced fumble in the season-ending victory at Sacred Heart (11/18).