EASTON, Pa. -- Four Lafayette seniors, three on defense and one on offense, have been selected to serve as the 2016 football team captains. It marks the third time in Frank Tavani's tenure (since 2000) that four players have been tabbed as the team's leaders.

Collin Albershardt (Castle Rock, Colo./Mullen) is entering his second season as a starter at defensive end, having been in the starting 11 for every contest as a junior. He played in 10 games as a sophomore and 12 games as a freshman. In 2015, he made 24 tackles in 2015 and garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District II honors and FCS ADA All-Star Team recognition following a fall semester in which he posted a 3.75 GPA while majoring in Economics.

Draeland James (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence) begins his third season as a starter at safety. His 2015 campaign was cut short due to a pair of injuries, but he started eight (playing 10) and six (playing 12) games in his sophomore and freshman seasons, respectively. Like Albershardt, James is a standout in the classroom, as a three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection while majoring in Government & Law.

Matt Rothrock (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) is coming off a 2015 season in which he earned All-Patriot League Second-Team honors and was the Defensive Line MVP. The Economics major begins his third season as a starter at defensive tackle, helping to anchor a front four that will be looked to for defensive production.

Like Rothrock, Connor Staudle (Highland Mills, N.Y./Cornwall) is also a three-year starter. He was a Preseason All-Patriot League selection as a junior before a knee injury limited him to six games. As a sophomore, the Economics major was one of two offensive linemen who started every game.

"These four student-athletes are outstanding young men and I selected them with significant input form the team and the coaching staff," said Lafayette head coach Frank Tavani. "It's an honor and a privilege to be a Lafayette football captain and each one of them is going to lead in his own way. They are our communications team, setting the tone for the program on and off the field.

Lafayette opens the 2016 season on Friday at Central Connecticut State, a 6 p.m. kickoff.