Captains Announced For 2026 Football Season
8/26/2026 7:16:00 PM | Football
ATHENS, Ohio – Ohio football head coach John Hauser has announced the team captains for the 2026 football season.
Quarterback Nick Poulos, safety DJ Walker, linebacker Jack Fries and running back Duncan Brune will serve as captains for Hauser's first season at the helm.
Nick Poulos – Gr. – QB – Granite Bay, Calif.
A graduate student, Poulos enters his third season with the Bobcats after joining the program in 2024. The 6-foot-6 quarterback has appeared in 12 games during his Ohio career, including one start. In 2024, Poulos made his first career start against Kentucky, completing eight passes for 110 yards while adding 25 rushing yards. Last season, he appeared in four games, completing four passes for 19 yards and rushing for 34 yards.
DJ Walker – R-Jr. – S – Aliquippa, Pa.
A returning team captain, Walker started all 13 games for Ohio in 2025 and anchored the Bobcats' secondary with 61 tackles, including 37 solo stops and six tackles for loss. He also recorded two interceptions and a pass breakup. Walker enters 2026 following a standout junior campaign that earned him Preseason First Team All-MAC recognition, as well as spots on the 2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch Lists. He was the lone Mid-American Conference representative on both watch lists.
Jack Fries – R-Sr. – LB – Cincinnati, Ohio
A redshirt senior, Fries returns for his fifth season with the Bobcats after a strong 2025 campaign. Fries appeared in eight games last season, making seven starts and recording 54 total tackles, including three tackles for loss and 25 solo stops. He also recorded the first interception of his career against UMass and posted a career-high 11 tackles against Western Michigan. Fries earned Academic All-MAC honors in 2024 and 2025 and was named to the 2026 Athlon All-MAC Fourth Team.
Duncan Brune – Jr. – RB – Cologne, Germany
Brune enters his third season with the Bobcats after a breakout 2025 campaign. The junior running back appeared in all 13 games last season, rushing for 585 yards and eight touchdowns. Brune recorded his first career 100-yard rushing performance against Northern Illinois and scored two touchdowns in games against both NIU and UMass. He earned Academic All-MAC honors following the 2025 season and was named to the 2026 Athlon All-MAC Third Team and Phil Steele Preseason All-MAC Second Team.
