Football | 8/25/2025 10:00:00 AM
BALTIMORE, Md. (August 25, 2025) – Morgan State head coach Damon Wilson has announced that four veteran student-athletes have been selected to serve as team captains for the 2025 Bears football season. Linebacker Erick Hunter, linebacker Arturo Mattocks, offensive lineman Daniel Casillas Jr., and wide receiver Joseph Kennerly Jr. will lead the program both on and off the field.
Coach Wilson shared his thoughts on the group's leadership and impact within the program.
"The coaches and I had conversations about who should serve as captains, and for the most part, there was a strong consensus. A few other names came up as well, which is a positive sign—we know we have several leaders on this team, even if they don't carry the official title of captain. However, these four have been with the program; they embody the qualities you want in leaders, and I'm excited to have these four student-athletes lead our program this 2025 season."
Hunter, a standout defensive talent, enters the season having already garnered significant recognition as the preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year and a Buck Buchanan Award Watch List honoree. Tasked with anchoring one of the MEAC's top defensive units, Hunter returns as a seasoned starter whose consistent playmaking has been a hallmark of the Bears' defense. Now in his final collegiate season, his impact extends beyond the field, as he stands as one of the most respected voices and leaders within the locker room.
Mattocks, also a preseason All-MEAC selection, has been a steady presence on defense throughout his career. Known for his physical play and high football IQ, he will continue to play a key role in guiding a linebacker corps that has been a strength for Morgan State.
A pivotal figure on the Bears' offensive line, Casillas Jr., a preseason All-MEAC Second Team honoree, is poised to lead from the center position this season. As a veteran presence, he is relied upon to set the tone in the trenches, and his experience and toughness make him a key anchor for an offense aiming to establish balance and consistency this season.
Kennerly Jr., a dependable wideout and playmaker, has emerged as a trusted target in the passing game. His work ethic and leadership in the receivers' room have earned him the respect of both teammates and coaches.
The Bears officially open their 2025 college football campaign with a highly anticipated road contest on Saturday, August 30, when they travel to Mobile, Alabama, to face South Alabama.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.