Vanderbilt center Bradley Vierling, safety Ryan Hamilton and linebacker Patrick Benoist have been elected co-captains by their teammates for the 2009 football season, coach Bobby Johnson announced Monday.
Vierling, a redshirt senior, will be a captain for the second straight season, while Hamilton, also a redshirt senior, and Benoist, a senior, are serving for the first time.
"I've always thought that captains reveal themselves through their hard work and concern for the team," Johnson said. "I think our team over the years has done an excellent job of voting for those guys who identify themselves. They've elected three great ones for this year."
All three players had outstanding 2008 seasons as part of the first Commodore football team to make a bowl in 26 years and first team to win a bowl in 53 years.
"I couldn't be more pleased," Johnson added. "I'm confident that they'll do a fantastic job in all situations, as captains should."
Vierling, in his first year as a starter, greatly improved his blocking over the course of the season and was a mainstay of the offensive line, snapping the ball for 95 percent of the team's offensive plays last season. He was named to the watchlist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding center in college football.
"I'm really expecting him to be a total package this year," said assistant head coach and offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell. "It wouldn't surprise me at all if he's not the best center in the SEC, which is quite a compliment to him."
The vocal Vierling says he leads best through example but knows when he has to speak out.
"This team right now, this is the closest team we've ever had here," Vierling said. "Maintaining that family atmosphere is huge because you win as a family, you lose as a family, you work hard as a family. In the end, we're all family and we all wear the Black and Gold. That's what we want to represent, as team captains all the way down to the youngest guy on the team."
Hamilton formed a potent tandem in the secondary with fellow safety Reshard Langford last season. Hamilton had four interceptions (three in one game against Ole Miss, including one returned for a touchdown), to go along with 51 solo tackles, 104 total tackles and three fumble recoveries. All were career highs.
"I see myself as a leader," Hamilton said. "I don't really try to do anything special. I just go out there and try to play my best, be a good example and get other guys motivated to play. That's what I've been doing, and I guess other guys recognized it and want me to keep doing it."
With 34 career starts, Hamilton is the most veteran player on the 2009 team.
"I feel like there's a lot of knowledge and a lot of experience I can pass on to younger guys and show them the way," he said.
Both Benoist and Hamilton were named National Defensive Players of the Week in 2008 for their respective performances against South Carolina (Benoist had 15 tackles and a sack) and Ole Miss (along with three interceptions, Hamilton recovered a fumble and had a fourth-down goal line tackle).
Benoist excelled last season at weakside linebacker and was second-team All-Conference after leading the Commodores with 109 total tackles and being named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions.
What was his criteria in voting for a team captain?
"I looked for guys who were motivational, always worked hard and got along with the rest of the team," Benoist said. "There can be great players who don't get along well with the team. Bradley and Ryan are obviously great players too, but both of them get along with everybody and everyone looks up to them."
The expectations are high for a team coming of its best season in decades but the new players at the helm of the Commodores welcome it.
"I like dealing with pressure and I'm sure both of these guys do too," Benoist said in reference to Vierling and Hamilton. "I'm excited, we still have a lot of work to do."
