PHILADELPHIA – Two veterans with Ivy League championship experience are set to serve as captains of the 2019 Penn Football team with the selection of seniors Karekin Brooks and Sam Philippi by their teammates.
 
"We are fortunate to have a large group of experienced players to lead our team this season, and our student-athletes made great selections in Karekin and Sam to serve as captains for the 2019 season," said George A. Munger Head Coach of Football Ray Priore. "These two players have played in a lot of games for this program and gone through what it takes to become an Ivy League champion. They have excelled on the field and showed tremendous leadership characteristics throughout their careers. There is no question that they have what it takes to serve as the standard bearers as we enter the 143rd season of Penn Football."
 
A two-time All-Ivy selection, Karekin Brooks has appeared in 27 games over his three previous seasons with the Quakers as a running back. He enters the 2019 season with 1,844 career rushing yards – 156 yards away from becoming the 11th Quaker all-time with 2,000 career rushing yards. Last season, he was second in the Ivy League with 898 yards rushing and averaged 5.4 yards over 167 carries on his way to second-team All-Ivy honors.
 
Also a two-time All-Ivy selection, Sam Philippi has appeared in 31 career games with the Red and Blue after playing all 10 games in each of the 2015, 2016, and 2017 seasons before a hip injury in the 2019 season opener ended his season. A two-time Ivy League champion, Philippi qualified for a fifth season of eligibility and returns to become just the 12th player in program history to be named a captain in multiple seasons.
 
The Quakers are set to begin the 2019 season on September 21 with a road trip to No. 18 Delaware at 1 p.m. The first home game for the 125th season of football at Franklin Field is set for October 4 against Dartmouth at 7 p.m.