Five seniors, all of whom are previous All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honorees, will share the University of Minnesota Duluth's team captaincy role in 2012 when the Bulldogs engage in their 80th season of intercollegiate football.

The quintet includes defensive end Joe Akey, strong safety Cameron Harper, offensive guard Garth Heikkinen, tight end Ben Helmer and quarterback Chase Vogler. Both Heikkinen, a 2011 American Football Coaches Association All-American first team selection, and Vogler, the school's No. 3 all-time passing and total offense leader, will embark on their fourth year of starting activity this fall while Harper and Helmer are both third-year starters. Akey, who topped the 2010 Bulldogs in sacks (6.5) en route to securing All-NSIC North Division second team acclaim, missed virtually all of last season with a knee injury.

The five-time defending NSIC champion Bulldogs will open 2012 preseason camp on Aug. 11 -- 19 days before its season opener at Southwest Minnesota State University.