Aug. 29, 2011
Five Commodores – Kyle Fischer, Casey Hayward, Chris Marve, Larry Smith and Carey Spear – have been voted by their teammates as captains for the 2011 season.
Fischer (R-Sr., OT) and Smith (R-Sr., QB) will serve on the offensive side; Hayward (Sr., CB) and Marve (R-Sr., LB) on defense; and Spear (So., PK) on special teams.
Fischer, Hayward, Smith and Spear are first-time co-captains. Marve served in the role last year.
Fischer, a 25-game starter on the offensive line, accepted a greater leadership role last spring. As a senior, he will start at right tackle after playing guard as a junior.
Hayward is the latest in a string of excellent Vandy defensive backs. Hayward ranks among the SEC active leaders in INTs (8) and enters the season with a team-leading 24 consecutive starts.
Marve is a three-year starter and candidate for numerous postseason defensive awards. Marve is the SEC’s active leader with 306 career tackles. He also has a team-high 36 starts.
Smith is a two-year starting quarterback and has shown determination to improve technique since Franklin’s arrival. The fifth-year contributor also appears more comfortable with a greater leadership role on offense.
The team’s primary kickoff specialist as a freshman in 2010, Spear has earned the placekicking duties with a strong preseason.
Head Coach James Franklin also expects to name up to three additional captains prior to each game.
